Executive Overview
QLogic implemented a comprehensive cybersecurity enhancement program for a large county government serving over 500,000 residents. The initiative transformed the county's security posture from reactive to proactive, establishing a mature cybersecurity program aligned with NIST Cybersecurity Framework and providing robust protection for critical infrastructure, citizen data, and government operations.
Key Results Achieved
Client Background
The county government operates critical services including emergency management, law enforcement, public utilities, tax administration, and social services. With over 3,000 employees across 40+ departments and agencies, the county manages sensitive data for hundreds of thousands of residents. Prior to the engagement, the county had experienced several security incidents including ransomware attempts and phishing campaigns targeting employees. A security assessment revealed significant gaps in their security controls, incident response capabilities, and employee awareness.
The Challenges
The county faced increasing cyber threats and needed to modernize their security posture to protect sensitive citizen data.
- Decentralized IT environment with inconsistent security policies and controls across departments
- Limited visibility into network traffic and potential threats across the county infrastructure
- Outdated endpoint protection unable to detect modern malware and advanced persistent threats
- No formal incident response plan or dedicated security operations capabilities
- Insufficient security awareness among employees, with phishing simulation failure rates exceeding 35%
- Legacy systems with known vulnerabilities that couldn't be easily patched or replaced
- Limited budget and competing priorities making comprehensive security improvements challenging
- Compliance requirements including CJIS for law enforcement data and PCI-DSS for payment processing
Our Solution
Implemented a multi-layered security framework including 24/7 monitoring, incident response, and employee training.
- Conducted comprehensive security assessment and gap analysis against NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- Designed and implemented defense-in-depth security architecture with multiple protective layers
- Deployed next-generation endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution across all 4,000+ endpoints
- Established Security Operations Center (SOC) with 24/7 monitoring using SIEM platform aggregating logs from all critical systems
- Implemented zero trust network architecture with micro-segmentation isolating critical systems and data
- Developed and tested comprehensive incident response plan with defined roles, procedures, and communication protocols
- Launched county-wide security awareness training program with monthly phishing simulations and targeted training
- Deployed privileged access management (PAM) solution securing administrative credentials and access
- Implemented vulnerability management program with regular scanning and risk-based remediation prioritization
Implementation Approach
The security enhancement program was delivered in three phases over 12 months. Phase 1 focused on immediate risk reduction including critical vulnerability remediation, endpoint protection deployment, and incident response planning. Phase 2 established the security operations center and implemented continuous monitoring capabilities. Phase 3 focused on advanced capabilities including threat hunting, security automation, and continuous improvement processes. Throughout the engagement, we provided knowledge transfer ensuring county IT staff could maintain and evolve the security program independently.
Technologies Used
"Before working with QLogic, we were constantly reacting to security incidents. Now we have visibility and control we never had before. The security operations center has stopped numerous attacks before they could impact our operations or citizen data. This partnership has been transformational for our county."
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