Softcat Stops Advanced Account Takeover Attacks and Saves Time with Abnormal

• Business Operation

• Cybersecurity Services
• System Integration

Softcat faced a significant challenge with advanced account takeover (ATO) email threats bypassing their existing email security gateway (SEG). Despite using Microsoft Exchange Online and a SEG, the company noticed that one or two ATO emails posing as vendors or customers were reaching their employees each day. This posed a risk to their employees' safety and productivity, as key security decisions were left to the employees. Additionally, the security team was burdened with responding to user-reported threats, which took time away from higher-value tasks. Softcat needed a solution that could detect these sophisticated threats without adding to the security team's workload or generating excess false positives.

Softcat is a rapidly growing IT services and consulting company based in the UK. With a strong focus on creating great experiences for both its customers and employees, Softcat has built a reputation for high customer satisfaction, consistently ranking in the mid-90% range. The company serves 10,000 customers and partners with 3,000 suppliers, offering a single point of purchase for a broad range of technology solutions and services. With 2,400 employees and over 3,400 protected mailboxes, Softcat is committed to maintaining a secure and efficient email ecosystem to support its business operations.

Softcat evaluated multiple API-based email security vendors to find a solution that could effectively detect advanced ATO attacks without adding to the security team's workload. Abnormal Security emerged as the top choice due to its superior performance in detecting ATO attacks and minimizing false positives. Abnormal's solution focuses on protecting user identities, making it difficult for attackers to compromise a user's identity even if a malicious email reaches an employee. Additionally, Abnormal automates responses to user-reported threats, freeing up the security team to focus on higher-value tasks. The AI-powered Email Productivity module also integrates seamlessly with Outlook, sorting graymail into a promotions folder and saving users time on mailbox maintenance.

• Abnormal Security's solution has significantly improved Softcat's ability to detect and prevent advanced ATO attacks, reducing the risk of malicious emails reaching employees.
• The automation of responses to user-reported threats has freed up the security team to focus on higher-value tasks, improving overall efficiency.
• The AI-powered Email Productivity module has enhanced the employee experience by sorting graymail into a promotions folder, reducing the time spent on mailbox maintenance.

• Softcat receives around 100,000 inbound emails each day.
• The company serves 10,000 customers and partners with 3,000 suppliers.
• Softcat has 2,400 employees and over 3,400 protected mailboxes.