Netwrix > Case Studies > Machinery Manufacturer Secures Intellectual Property and Ensures Accountability of Contractors

Machinery Manufacturer Secures Intellectual Property and Ensures Accountability of Contractors

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Intrusion Detection
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing

Applicable Industries

Buildings
National Security & Defense

Use Cases

Behavior & Emotion Tracking
Tamper Detection

Services

System Integration

About The Customer

PAL Srl is an Italian company that has established itself as a global leader in the manufacturing of machinery for the production of wood-based panels. Founded in 1978, the company is based in Ponte di Piave, Treviso, Italy. PAL relies heavily on digital systems to store and process sensitive data, including intellectual property related to their machinery. They also employ third-party developers to support their ERP system, necessitating a robust system to monitor and audit their activities.

The Challenge

PAL, a leading manufacturer of woodworking machinery, faced a significant challenge in securing their sensitive data and intellectual property. The company relied heavily on Windows file servers, Exchange Online, and SharePoint systems to store and process this data. They also employed third-party developers to support their ERP system, which required close monitoring to prevent any abuse of privileges or incorrect changes that could disrupt operations. The existing two-person IT team had been using manual log monitoring to identify security issues and conduct audits. However, this process was inefficient, cumbersome, and often delivered inaccurate results, leaving them unable to promptly detect incidents. The need for a more efficient and accurate system to audit their critical systems and ensure the accountability of contractors was evident.

The Solution

PAL opted for Netwrix Auditor, a solution that provided clear and comprehensive insight into their most critical systems and delivered easy-to-read audit reports in minutes. The solution enabled prompt detection of suspicious changes, continuous logon auditing, and visibility into SQL Server activities. Regular reviews of Netwrix Auditor reports helped identify changes to permissions and group membership that could affect access to intellectual property or sensitive mailboxes. The solution also alerted the team to suspicious logons, indicating potential security threats. The visibility into SQL Server activities allowed the team to monitor the actions of third-party developers supporting the ERP system, enabling them to quickly detect and revert any unwanted changes to ensure resource availability and avoid business disruptions.

Operational Impact

The implementation of Netwrix Auditor has significantly improved PAL's operational efficiency and security. The solution's ability to provide clear and comprehensive insights into their most critical systems has enabled the IT team to promptly detect security violations and prevent intellectual property theft. The continuous logon auditing feature has been particularly useful in identifying potential security threats, especially during the shift to remote work during the pandemic lockdown. The visibility into SQL Server activities has also ensured the accountability of third-party developers, allowing the team to quickly detect and revert any unwanted changes, thereby ensuring resource availability and avoiding business disruptions.

Quantitative Benefit