Every day, a renowned hospital serves the needs of over a million patients, delivering not only world-class care but also hope for healthier futures. But behind the scenes, the hospital’s small but mighty security team was feeling the strain. With two hospital campuses, multiple regional centers, and more than 50 care locations, the pressure to safeguard sensitive patient data was immense.
Their cybersecurity program was at a crossroads. Their existing MSSP wasn’t delivering, and with tight timelines to onboard a new partner, they knew they couldn’t afford to get it wrong. Here’s how the hospital found the right partner in Binary Defense and transformed their security operations into a story of resilience and success.
Lesson 1: Recognize When Your Current Approach Isn’t Working
The hospital’s challenges were piling up:
- Alert Fatigue: Alerts were pouring in from their MSSP, but most were noise, there was little actionable insight.
- Poor Communication: Getting support or clarity from their MSSP was a struggle, leaving the security team to fend for themselves.
- Resource Strain: A small internal team lacked the capacity to keep up with the demands of modern security management.
- Complex Environment: With data flowing from the cloud, EDR, and identity systems, their tools weren’t being used to their full potential.
The team needed a partner who could do more than just send alerts. They needed someone to strengthen their defenses, work within their existing systems, and help them prepare for the future.
Takeaway: The first step to improvement is admitting what isn’t working. Don’t settle for inefficiency, seek solutions that truly meet your needs.
Lesson 2: Seek a Partner Who Aligns With Your Goals
After evaluating seven vendors, the hospital found a clear match in Binary Defense. What set Binary Defense apart wasn’t just our expertise, it was our commitment to working as an extension of the hospital’s team.
From the start, Binary Defense prioritized transparency and collaboration, holding regular check-ins to ensure the hospital’s goals were front and center. And importantly, we respected the hospital’s requirements to work within Splunk, ensuring data ownership and seamless integration of custom detections.
Takeaway: Look for a partner who aligns with your goals and works with your team, not just for it. Collaboration is key to long-term success.
Lesson 3: Tailor Solutions for Long-Term Success
Instead of a cookie-cutter approach, Binary Defense created a strategy that was as unique as the hospital itself.
- Custom Detections and Playbooks: Tailored rules and workflows ensured the hospital’s most critical use cases were prioritized.
- Optimizing SIEM: A comprehensive health check fine-tuned their SIEM, addressing gaps in data logging and enhancing system performance.
- Future-Ready Planning: Binary Defense provided guidance for the eventual migration from Splunk to Microsoft Sentinel, ensuring a seamless transition when the time came.
Every step of the way, Binary Defense emphasized collaboration, working side by side with the hospital’s team to ensure solutions were not only effective but sustainable.
Takeaway: Tailored solutions that build on what you already have can be more effective than starting over with new tools.
Lesson 4: Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
One of the hospital’s biggest struggles was the sheer volume of alerts, they were buried in noise. Binary Defense helped them turn the tide.
In just one quarter, Binary Defense triaged 3,537 alerts, escalating only 111 critical incidents to the hospital. This meant the security team could focus on what truly mattered without getting lost in a sea of false positives.
Alerts weren’t just reduced; they were enriched. Every escalation came with actionable context and clear next steps, giving the team confidence in their decisions.
Takeaway: It’s not about how much data you have, it’s about how effectively you can use it. Reducing noise and focusing on quality makes all the difference.
Lesson 5: Build Resilience Through Expertise
Binary Defense’s Analysis-on-Demand (AoD) team became an invaluable resource for the hospital. These highly skilled analysts brought deep expertise in forensics and malware analysis, helping the hospital tackle even the most complex threats.
When the hospital faced a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attempt, the AoD team sprang into action. The email appeared to be from a trusted vendor, but Binary Defense uncovered that the vendor’s account had been compromised. The team provided clear recommendations: block the domain, recover funds, and train employees to spot future BEC attempts.
The swift response didn’t just resolve the incident, it made the hospital stronger and more prepared for future attacks.
Takeaway: Access to senior analysts and specialized expertise elevates your defenses and ensures you’re ready for even the most advanced threats.
Lesson 6: Partnership That Drives Confidence
This wasn’t just another service provider relationship. Binary Defense became a trusted extension of the hospital’s team, always ready to collaborate, problem-solve, and adapt to evolving needs.
From optimizing their current environment to planning for future growth, Binary Defense gave the hospital’s security team the support they needed to focus on their core mission: delivering world-class care to patients.
Takeaway: A great partnership goes beyond technology—it’s about trust, collaboration, and shared success.
The Results: From Reactive to Resilient
The transformation was remarkable:
- 3,537 alerts triaged, with only 111 escalated, reducing alert fatigue.
- Binary Defense’s detection rules accounted for 5 of the top alerts and 4 of the top 10 escalations, enhancing visibility into threats.
- Significant cost savings through reduced data ingestion and optimized resources.
- Faster, smarter responses to threats, like the BEC attempt, helped the hospital stay ahead of adversaries.
With Binary Defense as their partner, the hospital shifted from reactive firefighting to proactive threat management. Their small but determined security team now operates with confidence, knowing they have the expertise and support they need to safeguard their organization.
Ready to transform your security program? Discover how Binary Defense can help you build resilience and confidence in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Lets Talk. Or read the full case study.