The complexities of cybersecurity often seem insurmountable for large enterprises. For one global manufacturing company, this was a lived reality. With a workforce of over 60,000 employees, more than 450,000 clients, and a steady stream of mergers and acquisitions, their security team faced challenges that felt increasingly impossible to solve. Yet, their journey toward building a mature, resilient security program is a case study in how the right strategies, and partnerships, can turn the tide.
Let’s unpack the lessons from their transformation, not just as a success story but as a roadmap for others navigating similar challenges.
Lesson 1: Recognize When Your Current Approach Isn’t Working
The first step in solving a problem is admitting there is one. For this manufacturing enterprise, the cracks in their security program were glaring:
- Alert Fatigue: Over 19,000 alerts flooded their systems, most of them noise, with little context to guide action.
- Weak Collaboration: Their previous MDR provider at the time offered generic, copy-paste alerts with no tuning or partnership to improve detection.
- Visibility Gaps: The sprawling environment left blind spots across their operations, particularly with acquisitions.
- Resource Strain: A small, siloed team couldn’t keep pace with the demands of modern security management.
Their realization? Tools alone couldn’t solve these challenges. They needed a trusted partner who could bring expertise, tailored solutions, and scalability.
Takeaway: Don’t let inertia or frustration keep you stuck in an ineffective system. Recognizing the limitations of your current approach is the first step toward improvement.
Lesson 2: Seek a Partner, Not Just a Vendor
The manufacturing enterprise embarked on a year-long RFP process, evaluating multiple providers for not only their technical capabilities but also their ability to collaborate and communicate. Binary Defense stood out, not just for their US-based team and technical expertise, but for their clear commitment to partnership.
Binary Defense’s weekly check-ins, Quarterly Business Reviews, and transparent communication gave the enterprise confidence that they wouldn’t just be another client, they’d be part of a team working together toward a common goal.
Takeaway: A true cybersecurity partner will act as an extension of your team, offering support, education, and proactive solutions. Look for a provider who prioritizes collaboration as much as technical prowess.
Lesson 3: Tailor Solutions to Fit the Problem
Binary Defense began with a simple principle: one-size-fits-all solutions rarely work. Instead of applying a generic approach, we tailored every aspect of their services to the unique needs of the manufacturing enterprise:
- Custom Playbooks: Binary Defense created 29 playbooks designed to handle alerts specific to the enterprise’s environment.
- 300+ Custom Use Cases: Detection rules were fine-tuned for the threats most relevant to the business, significantly reducing false positives.
- Proactive Threat Intelligence: Binary Defense integrated proprietary threat feeds into the enterprise’s systems, providing enriched alerts with actionable context.
One of the most critical components was the migration from a legacy SIEM to Microsoft Sentinel. Binary Defense didn’t just manage the transition; we re-architected the system to ensure future scalability and visibility. This included leveraging Cribl for seamless log ingestion and addressing longstanding gaps in coverage without creating runaway costs on data ingestion.
Takeaway: Effective cybersecurity isn’t about applying tools; it’s about designing solutions that address your unique challenges and priorities.
Lesson 4: Focus on Reducing Noise, Not Just Increasing Data
The volume of alerts was a major pain point for the manufacturing enterprise. Binary Defense addressed this by tackling alert fatigue head-on. By fine-tuning detections, automating workflows, and creating VIP watchlists for critical assets, we cut alerts from 19,000 to 3,000 in just six months.
This wasn’t just about reducing numbers. It was about freeing up the security team to focus on meaningful threats instead of drowning in data. Custom dashboards provided actionable insights, while automation enriched alerts, so the team had the full context before diving into an investigation.
Takeaway: In cybersecurity, more data isn’t always better. Focus on quality over quantity to ensure your team can act effectively on the insights they receive.
Lesson 5: Build for the Future, Not Just the Present
Binary Defense didn’t stop at solving immediate problems. We worked with the enterprise to lay a foundation for long-term success:
- Maturity Assessments: Regular reviews highlighted security gaps and provided actionable recommendations to address them.
- Automation: Binary Defense helped implement automated enrichment rules, streamlining processes and reducing manual effort.
- Adaptability: As new acquisitions arose, Binary Defense was ready to deploy monitoring services quickly, ensuring the security program scaled with the business.
This forward-thinking approach gave the internal security team confidence to focus on strategic initiatives, knowing their partner was helping them build a resilient security posture.
Takeaway: Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field. Partner with providers who prioritize adaptability and long-term planning to ensure your program remains effective in the face of change.
Lesson 6: Partnership Is a Two-Way Street
The collaboration between Binary Defense and the manufacturing enterprise wasn’t passive. Weekly meetings, open communication, and active participation from both teams ensured alignment and trust. This relationship turned what could have been a transactional engagement into a transformational partnership.
Takeaway: Engage fully with your security provider. Open communication and shared accountability are the keys to getting the most out of the relationship.
The Bigger Picture: From Chaos to Control
In less than a year, this manufacturing giant went from struggling to secure its sprawling operations to building a robust, efficient, and scalable security program. The transformation wasn’t just about technology, it was about learning, adapting, and partnering in a way that aligned with their business goals.
Their journey is a testament to what’s possible when you focus on solving root problems, not just symptoms. And the lessons they learned are ones every organization can apply to their own security challenges.
Ready to take your security program to the next level? Let’s talk.
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By focusing on partnership, customization, and continuous improvement, you can move from overwhelmed to overprepared and write your own security success story.