Client
The client is a well-established real estate company with a good portfolio of residential and commercial properties across several states. For three decades they have been providing secure and comfortable living and working environments for their tenants and clients. However, recent increase and advancements in cybercrime tactics had exposed vulnerabilities in their existing IT infrastructure.
The Challenge
In the midst of digitally transforming their business operations, our client embarked on the journey of transitioning all customer, property, and transaction data into digital formats. While they successfully achieved this milestone, concerns about the security of their valuable data loomed large. Despite exploring various methods to bolster data security, uncertainty persisted. Faced with the critical need for a robust cybersecurity solution, they turned to GenesisNGN for expert guidance and protection.
Research
To gain a better understanding of the situation, GenesisNGN assembled a team of cybersecurity experts. The team visited the client’s head office, where they stored all customer data, and conducted a thorough research. During their initial research, they identified weaknesses in the company’s IT security posture and found the following issues:
- Outdated and weak security software: The company relied on outdated and weak antivirus and firewall software, leaving them susceptible to modern cyberattacks.
- Lack of employee training: Employees lacked awareness of cybersecurity best practices, such as phishing email identification and strong password creation.
- Unsecured data storage: Sensitive tenant data was stored on unsecured servers, making it a prime target for hackers.
- Absence of a centralized security strategy: The company lacked a comprehensive cybersecurity plan, leaving their IT infrastructure vulnerable to various attack vectors.
GenesisNGN proposed a multi-layered central cybersecurity solution designed to address the identified vulnerabilities.
Solution
To effectively address the client’s IT vulnerabilities, instead of applying a generic fix, the GenesisNGN team conducted a thorough risk assessment to identify the specific security gaps and developed a customized cybersecurity solution.
The cybersecurity solution GenesisNGN team provided was a centralized security management platform, acting as a control center for the entire IT infrastructure. Equipped with advanced security tools, it offers a unified view for detecting, preventing, and responding to threats.
Its key components:
- Advanced Threat Detection & Response (XDR): This next-gen solution goes beyond traditional antivirus, employing advanced analytics to swiftly identify and neutralize cyber threats in real-time. It acts as a vigilant monitor, keeping tabs on network activity, user behavior, and endpoint devices.
- Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP): Serving as a virtual shield for all connected systems, the EPP actively defends against malware, ransomware, and zero-day exploits. It ensures round-the-clock protection for desktops, laptops, and servers.
- Network Traffic Analysis (NTA): Acting as a vigilant watchdog, this tool meticulously scrutinizes network traffic for signs of suspicious activity, malware communication, and unauthorized access attempts.
- Multi-factor authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) was implemented for all user accounts, requiring a secondary verification step beyond just a password to access the sensitive information.
- Data encryption: All sensitive tenant and other data was encrypted, to add an extra layer of protection. Only authorized users with the right keys can see this information.
Alongside digital transformation in cybersecurity, our team also provided comprehensive employee training to educate employees on recognizing and mitigating cyber threats.
Benefits
The implemented cybersecurity solution yielded significant benefits for the real estate company:
- Enhanced Security Posture: The company’s IT infrastructure became significantly more secure, with robust defenses against cyberattacks.
- Reduced Risk of Data Breaches: The implemented safeguards significantly reduced the risk of data breaches, protecting tenant information and company reputation.
- Improved Regulatory Compliance: The company achieved better compliance with data security regulations, avoiding potential fines and legal repercussions.
- Increased Tenant and Client Trust: By prioritizing data security, the company gained tenant and client trust and confidence in their ability to protect sensitive information.
- Peace of Mind: The company’s management team gained peace of mind knowing their IT infrastructure was well-protected against evolving cyber threats.
