A leading national retailer faced growing cybersecurity challenges as their business expanded. With a network of retail locations and a significant eCommerce presence, safeguarding customer data and maintaining PCI compliance were top priorities.
Prior to engaging a managed security services provider, the company relied on a patchwork of basic security tools. These tools included antivirus software and firewalls, supplemented with a heavy dose of hope.
The company experienced an increase in phishing attempts and ransomware threats.Vulnerabilities were present in their public-facing websites. Maintaining consistent PCI compliance standards proved difficult. The company also lacked real-time threat detection and incident response capabilities. Additionally, sensitive customer information was inadvertently exposed due to misconfigured server debugging settings, creating significant security and compliance risks.
The client chose VirtualArmour for its powerful combination of cost-effective, integrated cybersecurity solutions, including SIEM (QRadar) and EDR (Stellar Cyber XDR). VirtualArmour stood out by offering advanced, customizable detection capabilities and real time monitoring that significantly strengthened the client’s ability to respond to threats as they emerged. Their built-in support for PCI compliance was critical to the client’s regulatory needs, while hands-on expert guidance and proactive incident management set VirtualArmour apart from other providers.
Even though the initial onboarding took place over eight years ago, VirtualArmour’s ongoing partnership and unwavering service quality have been critical to the client’s evolving security strategy. Over the years, VirtualArmour has led key initiatives, including the deployment and management of QRadar SIEM and Stellar Cyber XDR platforms.
They developed custom threat detection rules to identify abnormal website login patterns and ensure the integrity of checkout pages. A tailored incident response playbook was built and implemented, while continuous endpoint and network monitoring helped maintain a strong security posture. Regular strategic security reviews and proactive log source management have ensured that the client’s defenses stay ahead of emerging threats.
Custom rules were created to monitor excessive logins on the eCommerce platform. These were particularly effective during high-traffic events such as Black Friday. The rules successfully identified account takeover attempts, leading to proactive blocking of suspicious geographic regions.
A critical issue was identified and mitigated where customer PII was inadvertently logged due to excessive debugging on servers. VirtualArmour worked closely with the client and their vendor to resolve it.
Suspicious outbound traffic from a compromised host attempting to send sensitive admin data to an overseas botnet was detected and addressed.
Repeated SQL login failures and suspicious login behaviors were monitored and investigated. This helped uncover operational issues with shared scanner devices.
Internal scanning activities were detected, validated with the client’s IT team, and incorporated into ongoing monitoring to avoid false positives.
With real-time monitoring and rapid incident detection, the company’s defenses against modern cyber threats grew dramatically stronger. Early identification of account compromises, data leaks, and unauthorized network activity helped prevent potential breaches before they could cause serious damage. VirtualArmour’s hands-on support with PCI audits and reporting kept the company consistently compliant and protected against costly penalties.
Streamlined log management and intelligent event filtering maximized the efficiency of their SIEM licensing, cutting unnecessary overhead. Through continuous advisory support and proactive communication, VirtualArmour helped the client not only maintain but steadily advance their security posture in step with the evolving threat landscape.
By partnering with VirtualArmour, the client fundamentally transformed their cybersecurity strategy, evolving from a patchwork of basic defenses to a fully integrated, proactive security operation. With real-time threat detection, tailored incident response protocols, and continuous monitoring in place, the client gained the ability to not just react to threats but to anticipate and neutralize them before damage could occur.
This strengthened security framework enhanced operational resilience across the entire organization, safeguarded critical customer data, and reinforced trust with both customers and partners. The success of this collaboration positioned the client for sustainable growth in an increasingly complex and hostile digital landscape.
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