Case Studies

From vulnerability to vigilance: A UK housing associations journey with Arctic Wolf MDR

Written by Storm Technologies | Nov 29, 2023 11:00:00 AM

01 OVERVIEW

Company at a glance:

A housing association, a new customer to Storm in 2021, operates in a dynamic environment where cyber threats loom large. As a housing association that manages over 30,000 homes, cyber resilience was paramount, prompting critical data protection measures. However, their existing security model relied on disjointed, uncoordinated, and sometimes delayed alerts that were made aware of serious cyber breaches before it was too late.

This prompted the housing association to trust Storm for a refreshed cybersecurity approach that would advance their ability to meet compliance requirements. Storm's Account Manager, Vicki Bryson, introduced the housing association to Arctic Wolf, which was recommended throughout the engagement as a managed security solution versus their current SOC provider, which led to the positioning of Arctic Wolf.

The challenge:

  • Lack of value: their current SOC provider failed to deliver tangible value.
  • Cybersecurity uncertainty: Uncertain about investing in SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solution.
  • Delayed awareness: the housing association discovered 110,000 login attempts on a Friday but only became aware of it on Sunday - prompt action was lacking with internal alerts with their previous cyber security vendor.

The solution:

Storm Technologies proposed a comprehensive solution to address their cybersecurity challenges. The Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution became the cornerstone of their security strategy. Here's how it unfolded:

Arctic Wolf MDR:
  • 24/7 Monitoring: The housing association gained reliable, round‑the‑clock monitoring of their networks, endpoints, and cloud environments.
  • Incident Response: Swift action against cyber threats ensured timely mitigation.
  • Security Telemetry: A single view of all security data provided actionable insights.


02 ARCTIC WOLF: THE PERFECT FIT FOR THE HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Managed Risk:
  • Arctic Wolf's MDR solution helped the housing association assess and manage risk effectively.
  • Proactive measures reduced vulnerabilities and potential breaches.
 
Security awareness:
  • The housing association team gained heightened awareness of security events.
  • Regular updates and insights kept them informed about emerging threats.
 
Incident response:
  • Arctic Wolf experts swiftly addressed incidents, ensuring minimal impact on operations.
  • The housing association's critical data remained secure.

03 BENEFITS FOR THE HOUSING ASSOCIATION

  • Enhanced protection: Arctic Wolf MDR provides a proactive shield against threats in a single pane of glass.
  • Operational efficiency: Streamlined monitoring and incident response allowing for rapid response to data and security breaches.
  • Cost‑effective: A single solution covering all security needs, optimising resources.
  • 24/7 monitoring: Reliable monitoring of all networks, endpoints, and cloud environments.
  • Incident response: Swift action against cyber threats.
  • Security telemetry: A single view of all security data.

04 BUSINESS OUTCOMES

With Arctic Wolf MDR in place, the housing association achieved:

Proactive defence:
Immediate detection and response to cyber‑attacks.

Peace of mind:
Reliable security operations, even during non‑business hours.

Data protection:
Safeguarding critical information and ensuring GDPR compliance.

 

05 CONCLUSION

Storm Technologies, in partnership with Arctic Wolf, ensured this large housing association transitioned from vulnerability to vigilance. The proactive managed detection and response model provided continuous monitoring, actionable insights, and expert guidance, enabling the housing association to safeguard its critical data and maintain compliance standards - ultimately increasing their security posture and protecting their digital landscape. 
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