Cashmere Valley Bank elevates Active Directory security with ADAudit Plus

Business challenges

• Network Security: The need to audit the security aspects of their network, especially user activities like logging on and off.
• Active Directory Oversight: A requirement for comprehensive monitoring and reporting of their active directory's security.
• Efficient Reporting: A demand for faster and more detailed auditing reports.
• Transition from Previous Solutions: The bank was previously using a different product that, over time, failed to meet their evolving needs.
• User-Friendly Interface: A solution that was intuitive, easy to configure, and didn't require navigating through multiple interfaces.

The Problem

Cashmere Valley Bank, like many modern financial institutions, recognized the critical importance of a robust and secure IT infrastructure. In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and frequent, the bank's ability to protect its clients' data and ensure the integrity of its transactions was paramount. Kathy McGaughey, the IT Admin, succinctly captured the essence of their challenge: "Our business requirement was to audit our security part of our network... it was important for us to have better auditing reports."

Diving deeper into this challenge, it becomes evident that the bank's previous solution was becoming a bottleneck. For several years, they relied on a product that, while adequate in the past, was no longer meeting the evolving demands of the bank. Kathy mentioned, "We were using another product that... wasn't giving us the ability to do more in a faster manner." This limitation was not just about speed. The previous product lacked the comprehensive reporting capabilities that modern banking security demands. In a sector where every login, logout, and transaction can be a potential vulnerability, the need for detailed, real-time insights is non-negotiable.

Furthermore, the bank's challenge wasn't just about finding a more efficient tool. They needed a solution that was intuitive and user-friendly. Kathy's emphasis on the importance of logical configuration and the challenges of "bouncing through different places to get things" highlighted the bank's need for a streamlined, centralized solution. In essence, Cashmere Valley Bank was grappling with a two-fold problem: a tool that was lagging in terms of capabilities and an interface that was becoming increasingly cumbersome to navigate.

The outcome

The introduction of ADAudit Plus into Cashmere Valley Bank's IT infrastructure marked a turning point in their approach to network security. The transformation was not just in terms of the capabilities the tool brought but also in the broader perspective of how the bank approached its IT security challenges.

Kathy's appreciation for ADAudit Plus was evident from the outset. She highlighted the tool's logical configuration, stating, "It was really nice in the way that it was configured. It seemed logical and seamless." This sentiment underscores a significant shift from their previous experience. With ADAudit Plus, the bank's IT team no longer had to navigate through disjointed interfaces or grapple with convoluted configurations. Everything they needed was accessible, intuitive, and centralized.

Beyond the user experience, the bank also benefited immensely from the tool's capabilities. The enhanced visibility into their Active Directory was a game-changer. As Kathy pointed out, "This gives us way more visibility than what we could see before." In the high-stakes world of banking, where even minor oversights can lead to significant vulnerabilities, this increased visibility was invaluable.

The onboarding process further solidified the bank's positive experience with ADAudit Plus. The flexibility offered during this phase, with sessions tailored to the bank's pace of understanding, ensured a smooth transition. Kathy's appreciation for this approach was evident: "It was nice to have that flexibility of doing it slow at the beginning... we started to understand more."

In conclusion, the outcome of integrating ADAudit Plus was transformative for Cashmere Valley Bank. Not only did they find a solution that addressed their immediate challenges, but they also established a foundation for future-proofing their IT security infrastructure. Kathy's rating of ADAudit Plus as a 10 is a testament to the tool's impact, emphasizing its efficiency, comprehensive capabilities, and the significant value it added to the bank's operations.

About ADAudit Plus

ADAudit Plus is a UBA-driven auditor that helps keep your AD, Azure AD, file systems (including Windows, NetApp, EMC, Synology, Hitachi, Huawei, and Amazon FSx for Windows), Windows servers, and workstations secure and compliant. ADAudit Plus transforms raw and noisy event log data into real-time reports and alerts, enabling you to get full visibility into activities happening across your Windows Server ecosystem in just a few clicks. For more information about ADAudit Plus, visit manageengine.com/active-directory-audit.