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Valley Strong Credit Union Bolsters Security and Compliance Using Arctic Wolf for Security Operations
Technology Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Endpoint Security
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Security Compliance
Applicable Industries
- Finance & Insurance
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Cybersecurity
- Regulatory Compliance Monitoring
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Cybersecurity Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Valley Strong Credit Union faced significant challenges in maintaining visibility across a diverse IT environment, monitoring and responding to security incidents, and locating, training, and retaining IT and security expertise. The credit union's IT infrastructure includes over 600 workstations, nearly 200 servers, and various IP phones, routers, switches, and access points. The 36-member IT team, including a small team of security specialists, struggled to protect member data and oversee the diverse environment. Additionally, the technology hubs of Southern California and Silicon Valley attracted much of the local talent, making it difficult for Valley Strong to find and retain skilled IT professionals. The credit union initially tried to monitor its environment internally and later engaged Dell SecureWorks as a managed security service provider (MSSP). However, SecureWorks could not meet Valley Strong's security requirements or provide the necessary business flexibility.
About The Customer
Valley Strong Credit Union, formerly known as Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, is a locally-owned financial institution based in California's Central Valley. With over $1.7 billion in assets and serving more than 150,000 members, Valley Strong offers a comprehensive range of financial products and solutions both online and through its 13 branch locations. The credit union employs 450 individuals and has plans to expand with five additional branches. Valley Strong's IT infrastructure is extensive, comprising over 600 workstations, nearly 200 servers, and various IP phones, routers, switches, and access points. The IT team, consisting of 36 members, is responsible for engineering, maintaining, and securing this infrastructure, including a small team of security specialists dedicated to protecting member data and ensuring compliance with various regulatory requirements.
The Solution
To address its security and compliance challenges, Valley Strong Credit Union decided to partner with Arctic Wolf for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. After evaluating multiple managed detection and response solutions and receiving recommendations from other credit unions, Valley Strong chose Arctic Wolf due to its familiarity with credit union environments and its ability to meet the credit union's specific operational and security requirements. Arctic Wolf's Concierge Security® Team customized the MDR service to fit Valley Strong's needs, ensuring a smooth and rapid deployment. Initially, the MDR service was deployed to monitor the credit union's on-premises infrastructure. As Valley Strong began migrating to Microsoft Office 365, the credit union planned to maintain consolidated security visibility by monitoring Microsoft 365 through Arctic Wolf MDR. This partnership allowed Valley Strong to economize on its security spend, avoid the cybersecurity talent shortage, and adapt to the evolving infrastructure. The credit union's IT management team appreciated the seamless relationship with Arctic Wolf, which enabled them to focus on projects that benefit the credit union and its members.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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