Case Study: Reducing Unauthorized Access by 97% for a Major Payroll Company

Introduction

Imagine managing one of the largest payroll databases in the world, responsible for safeguarding sensitive social security information for over 90 million Brazilian citizens. Picture the complexity of overseeing three massive data centers spread across Brazil, each housing thousands of devices critical for processing and storing this vital data. For this payroll provider, the challenge was not just in handling immense volumes of data but also in combating severe security vulnerabilities that threatened the integrity of their operations.

Operating with fixed local passwords and indiscriminate privileged access, the organization faced a daunting task. With nearly every IT device capable of bypassing security measures and without any mechanism to record privileged access, their network was a fortress with numerous cracks. Shared secrets further exacerbated the situation, which allowed malicious users to act without accountability. Establishing a secure perimeter and preventing unauthorized access seemed nearly impossible in such an environment. As the situation grew increasingly precarious, it became evident that a comprehensive and robust solution was urgently needed to protect this critical infrastructure and ensure the security of millions of individuals' data.