Learn how the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) strengthened its cybersecurity defenses by adopting a cloud-native solution, improving threat detection and response, reducing costs, and increasing scalability and agility.
OPM Enhances Cybersecurity with Cloud-Native Solution
( Credit to: Fedscoop )
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recognized the need to modernize its IT infrastructure after experiencing a massive data breach in 2015. OPM's Chief Information Officer (CIO), Guy Cavallo, understood the importance of a cloud-native cybersecurity solution to combat evolving cyber threats.
( Credit to: Fedscoop )
To address the new cyber challenges, OPM's CIO and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), James Saunders, sought a cloud-native cybersecurity platform. They chose Microsoft's Azure cloud-based cybersecurity stack for its advanced capabilities, such as artificial intelligence, centralized log collection, and simplified management.
By leveraging a cloud-native cybersecurity solution, OPM achieved enhanced threat detection and response, improved visibility into their security posture, reduced costs and complexity, and increased scalability and agility. The successful migration to the cloud serves as a testament to the efficacy of cloud-native solutions in combating modern cyber challenges.
Recognizing New Cyber Challenges
( Credit to: Fedscoop )
OPM's Chief Information Officer (CIO), Guy Cavallo, and his team assessed the inadequacy of their existing on-premises cyber tools against advanced cyber capabilities. They realized that identity-based attacks required more advanced detection and response solutions. Cavallo recognized that the cloud was the ideal solution to keep pace with evolving attack vectors.
Instead of investing in on-premises hardware, OPM's CIO and CISO chose a cloud-native cybersecurity platform to address the new cyber challenges. They selected Microsoft's Azure cloud-based cybersecurity stack for its ability to collect data logs, eliminate software patching, and provide advanced capabilities like artificial intelligence.
Checklist for a Better Solution
OPM's CIO and CISO sought a cloud-native cybersecurity platform to avoid the complexities of integrating multiple tools. They chose Microsoft's Azure cloud-based cybersecurity stack for its ability to collect data logs, eliminate software patching, and provide advanced capabilities like artificial intelligence.
In addition to the cloud-native cybersecurity platform, OPM implemented a cloud access security broker (CASB) to enhance security monitoring and management across multiple domains.
Added Benefits
OPM's decision to leverage a cloud-native cybersecurity solution offered several advantages. By utilizing cyber defenses that span multiple clouds, OPM achieved a more holistic security approach. Microsoft's extensive threat intelligence ecosystem and streamlined contract management further supported their decision. The benefits were quickly realized after the migration to the cloud.
The Pay-Off
OPM's transition from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud involved retiring servers, decommissioning storage areas, and SQL databases. While the technical migration posed its challenges, the most critical aspect was managing the workforce transition. Extensive training and organizational change management played a pivotal role in the success of the transition. The benefits became evident in the following areas:
- Enhanced Visibility: OPM now has a comprehensive view of its security posture with centralized log collection.
- Improved Threat Detection and Response: AI-powered tools and Microsoft's threat intelligence enable OPM to identify and respond to threats more effectively.
- Reduced Costs and Complexity: Cloud-native solutions eliminate the need for expensive on-premises hardware and simplify management and maintenance.
- Increased Scalability and Agility: The cloud platform allows OPM to scale its security infrastructure as needed to address evolving threats and business requirements.
Lessons Learned
OPM's CIO, Guy Cavallo, emphasizes the importance of simplicity in choosing an integrated security platform and investing in training to familiarize staff with cloud-native security tools. He advises starting with a pilot project and gradually migrating security infrastructure to the cloud. Effective communication with stakeholders is crucial to address concerns and highlight the benefits of cloud-native security.
Conclusion
OPM's transition to a cloud-native cybersecurity solution has significantly bolstered its defense against cyber threats. By leveraging the cloud's scalability, advanced capabilities, and centralized management, OPM has enhanced its security posture, reduced costs, and achieved greater agility. The success of this migration serves as a testament to the efficacy of cloud-native solutions in combating modern cyber challenges.
