Strengthen Security: Independence, MO Enlists C1 in Cyber Defense

The Challenge:

Navigating Cyber Challenges: Lessons from Independence

Recent data reveals an uptick in cyber threats targeting municipal governments, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

Chris Johnson joined the City of Independence as its manager of the Municipal Cyber Center to draw upon his extensive US Air Force military IT experience to help the city fortify its digital infrastructure. 

Johnson and his team engaged with C1 to conduct cybersecurity assessments, as Independence sought to bolster its defenses. But before Johnson and his team could act upon the recommendations, the city faced a ransomware attack, exploiting security vulnerabilities. 

"Our backups were crucial in mitigating the impact," Johnson remarks. "Working with C1, we restored compromised systems, highlighting the importance of proactive preparation." 

As Independence aims to build resilience, Johnson stresses a balanced approach. "Prevention is vital, but you can't prevent everything," he cautions. 

The incident underscores the relentless nature of cyber threats. Yet, Johnson remains optimistic. "It was all hands on deck, but recovery was manageable," he concluded, emphasizing the city's commitment to cybersecurity resilience. 

Looking ahead, Johnson advocates for a comprehensive strategy encompassing prevention and rapid recovery measures. With C1, Independence has found a partner to build resilience and streamline recovery processes in the face of future cyber threats. 

The Solution:

C1: The City’s Partner in Fighting Cyber Threats 

Independence has found a steadfast ally in C1's comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. Collaborating closely, the city adopted Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response (MDR) for endpoint protection and integrated Check Point's next-generation AI-powered firewall and security suite for email and browsing protection.

Further fortifying its defenses, Independence migrated its data center to a Dell VxRail hyperconverged environment, facilitated by C1's expert professional services team. Dell's hyperconverged compute, storage, and backup solutions significantly reduced Independence's data center footprint while securely enhancing systems operations and reliability.

"The C1 team has been outstanding," said Johnson. "It's not just them selling us product, it's them learning our environment, learning our business, how we do business within this organization, and understanding the full ecosystem of our program and what we have going on." 

This intimate partnership has been pivotal in Independence's cybersecurity success.  

Johnson emphasized, "Having such a close relationship and deep understanding has been critical. Partnering with C1 has truly been instrumental in our resilience against cyber threats."

The Result:

C1's Cyber Solutions Yield Tangible Results for Independence 

The strategic partnership with C1 has delivered tangible outcomes in bolstering Independence's security posture, with the implementation of the Arctic Wolf Endpoint Solution marking a significant advancement. As the solution conducted its initial scan, it swiftly identified and quarantined malware-infected files, mitigating potential risks to the city's digital infrastructure. 

Reflecting on the impact of this partnership, Johnson emphasized the preventive capabilities inherent in C1's solutions. "Having these tools in place could have prevented previous incidents." 

Moving forward, Independence prioritizes proactive defense measures and maintenance to ensure continued resilience against cyber threats. Leveraging the capabilities of C1 managed services, the city remains vigilant in staying ahead of emerging threats. Features such as behavior analysis, open-source intelligence integration, and advanced automation provided by C1's solutions are instrumental in augmenting the city's cybersecurity capabilities. 

Johnson underscored the significance of automation in enhancing the efficiency of Independence's cybersecurity operations, stating, "Trusting the automation provided by these tools is critical for our small team."