IoT Security Solution for Redditch Borough Council: A Case Study

• Cybersecurity & Privacy - Endpoint Security

• Equipment & Machinery
• National Security & Defense

• Tamper Detection

• System Integration

In the mid-to-late 90s, Redditch Borough Council, a local government body in the United Kingdom, faced a significant security challenge. The spread of boot sector viruses via infected floppy disks was a major security problem. The council's IT department identified that a significant virus threat to its network was being caused by users introducing floppy disks onto their work PCs, which they had been using at home. The council needed a solution that would manage the introduction of foreign media and control the installation of software and new files on every council PC. Prior to adopting Check Point data security, the council relied on an antivirus package deployed on a small number of machines. However, this solution failed to provide complete security, and the associated costs of protecting the network from unauthorized software installations and viruses proved to be beyond the scope of available budgets.

Redditch Borough Council is a local government body that delivers a wide array of vital services in the town of Redditch, Worcestershire, United Kingdom, and its outlying areas. The council works to deliver a full range of local services for the benefit of around 79,000 residents and the many others who work in the area. The council employs some 1,100 people to deliver these services. In the mid-to-late 90s, the council faced a significant security challenge due to the spread of boot sector viruses via infected floppy disks.

The council tested Pointsec Protector against a variety of competitive products as they searched for a solution to the security problem. The ease of installation, comprehensiveness, and competitive pricing of Pointsec Protector made it stand out as the best possible solution. Pointsec Protector provided Redditch Borough Council with a solution that could control the introduction of floppy disks and, in the years following, removable media devices onto the network. It provided a policy-driven mechanism with which the council could secure its information and ensure the integrity of its data, providing unrivaled endpoint security over the use of USB and other memory devices. The introduction of the Check Point product allowed system administrators to take control of the network, managing removable media either by denying all access, providing read-only access, allowing full authorized access, or enforcing encrypted-only access.

• The implementation of Pointsec Protector has provided a comprehensive level of security to Redditch Borough Council. It has successfully prevented the use of unapproved removable media and unlicensed software while stopping viruses and other malware from affecting its network. The use of floppy disks and, in subsequent years, removable media devices to transfer information has always been a problem, and Pointsec Protector has given the council a means of controlling rogue devices. Users can no longer connect USB devices, memory sticks, digital cameras, or PDAs to their PCs and risk introducing malicious code onto the network. The support and dedication of the Check Point team have been outstanding, offering the council the comprehensive technical support they require.