Introduction to Hempsons’ Cybersecurity Challenge
Hempsons LLP handles a large volume of sensitive patient records and medical histories. Ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of this data is critical. Despite having good basic security practices, including patch management, email security, mobile device management, and regular vulnerability assessments, Hempsons lacked proactive monitoring. This gap left them vulnerable to potential breaches, especially outside regular business hours, when their IT team was unavailable to respond to incidents.
Strategic Approach and Implementation
Recognizing the need for enhanced cybersecurity, Hempsons partnered with Ontinue. Initially, Hempsons utilized Microsoft Defender for endpoint protection but needed to expand their coverage. They upgraded to E5 licences, which provided additional security capabilities. Ontinue’s MXDR services were integrated to deliver 24/7 monitoring and incident response. This included proactive threat detection and real-time alerting through Microsoft Teams, ensuring that both Hempsons’ and Ontinue’s teams could collaborate effectively on incident management.
Impact and Achievements
The integration of Ontinue’s MXDR services bolstered Hempsons’ existing good cybersecurity posture. They achieved consistent, proactive monitoring and significantly improved their ability to respond to high-priority alerts. The effective filtering and noise reduction provided by Ontinue’s platform ensured that Hempsons could focus on critical incidents. This 24/7 coverage increased client confidence, demonstrating Hempsons’ commitment to data security. Moreover, the transition to E5 licences and the effective use of Microsoft Teams for alerting streamlined their security operations and enhanced overall efficiency.
Insights and Reflections
Adam Johnson, Head of Technology and Architecture at Hempsons, reflects on the transformation: “We now have proactive monitoring, which is a big difference. The collaboration through Microsoft Teams is invaluable, as it allows us to focus on high-priority events without getting bogged down by low-priority noise. Ontinue’s services align perfectly with our security vision, providing the expertise we need to maintain a robust security posture.”
