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Watercare Enhances Security and User Experience with Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform
Technology Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Equipment & Machinery
- Telecommunications
Applicable Functions
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Leakage & Flood Monitoring
- Water Utility Management
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
The Challenge
Watercare Services, a public utility company in Auckland, New Zealand, faced significant challenges in securing its network and optimizing work-from-anywhere (WFA) and remote access for its IIoT and IoT devices. The company had initially weathered the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns using a combination of security solutions, including a secure cloud gateway and virtual private networks (VPNs). However, during the second lockdown, these solutions proved insufficient. The company's existing secure cloud gateway was obtrusive and unpopular among users. Furthermore, Watercare's primary VPN product collapsed just before the second lockdown, leaving the company in urgent need of a more reliable and comprehensive solution. The company was committed to adopting a zero trust security approach and needed a platform that could deliver exceptional user experiences while also providing robust security.
About The Customer
Watercare Services is a public utility company based in Auckland, New Zealand. The company converts approximately 400 million litres of collected fresh water into drinking water for 1.7 million residents of the greater Auckland region every day. It also treats a similar quantity of wastewater and returns it safely to coastal waterways. In addition to these services, Watercare operates a substantial construction division to complete and maintain its various facilities. The company has approximately 1,100 employees serving 1.7 million residents and operates across 1,300 sites. Watercare is committed to using technology effectively to improve productivity and user experiences.
The Solution
Watercare decided to standardize on the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform, which included the granular user experience monitoring and analytics solution, Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX). The company expanded its Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) deployment by 800 people in less than half a day, securing access to Watercare applications running in its data center and in its multicloud environment. The ZPA connects users and devices to applications, rather than to the network, preventing lateral infections while making users and applications invisible to external threats. The platform also inspects traffic, including encrypted traffic, for effective prevention of threats and data loss. Watercare also adopted Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) to speed up internet connections and boost security. Finally, the company implemented ZDX to improve user experiences and resolve application performance issues more efficiently.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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