Client Overview

The client is a mid-sized financial services company with over 500 employees, providing digital banking and payment services. Due to the increasing importance of cybersecurity and regulatory requirements in the financial sector, the company decided to perform a comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) for its IT infrastructure to ensure their systems were secure.


Challenge

The company's IT infrastructure was distributed across multiple data centers, with several applications running in both on-premise and cloud environments. They lacked a consistent vulnerability management strategy, and previous audits revealed significant gaps in security, including outdated software versions, misconfigured network devices, and weak access control policies.

The client needed an experienced IT infrastructure support team to:

  • Coordinate the VAPT exercise across on-premise and cloud environments.

  • Provide real-time assistance and system monitoring to minimize downtime during penetration testing.

  • Address security gaps identified in the assessment.



Informatrix IT Team Role

The IT infrastructure support team played a critical role in ensuring the success of the VAPT process. The key responsibilities were:

1. Pre-Assessment Preparation:

  • System Baseline Review: Review the current network topology, server configurations, and security policies.

  • Access Control: Ensure that the VAPT team had the necessary access rights to conduct testing without interfering with business operations.

  • Backup and Contingency Plans: Back up critical systems and data to avoid data loss during testing.

  • Firewall and Network Configuration: Configure firewalls, IDS/IPS, and other security tools to allow safe and controlled penetration testing.


2. VAPT Execution Assistance:

  • Real-time Support: Monitor critical systems and services during testing to identify any performance issues or system failures.

  • System Patching: Assist in applying patches or fixes to vulnerabilities identified by the VAPT team (e.g., outdated software, open ports, etc.).

  • Network Segmentation: Work with the security team to implement additional segmentation if vulnerabilities related to lateral movement were discovered.

  • Communication with Stakeholders: Provide regular updates to the client’s internal team about the testing progress, findings, and risks.


3. Post-Assessment Remediation:

  • Vulnerability Remediation: Collaborate with the security team to address vulnerabilities and configuration issues uncovered during testing, including updating software, closing unnecessary ports, and strengthening authentication mechanisms.

  • System Hardening: Assist in implementing best practices for system hardening, such as disabling unnecessary services, enforcing stronger password policies, and configuring multi-factor authentication (MFA).

  • Security Monitoring Setup: Implement proactive security monitoring tools (e.g., SIEM, network monitoring) to detect and respond to potential threats in real time.

  • Documentation and Reporting: Help generate comprehensive reports on vulnerabilities found and the actions taken to remediate them.


Outcome

The collaboration between the IT infrastructure support team and the VAPT team resulted in the identification of several high-risk vulnerabilities, such as:

  • Exposed admin interfaces without multi-factor authentication.

  • Unpatched critical systems and outdated software versions.

  • Insecure network configurations allowing for lateral movement.

  • Weak or non-existent encryption on sensitive data in transit.


Key outcomes from the VAPT exercise included:

  • Improved Security Posture: All identified vulnerabilities were addressed, and the organization’s network was segmented to prevent unauthorized lateral movement.

  • Enhanced Compliance: The company met the regulatory requirements for cybersecurity audits and vulnerability management, reducing the risk of fines or penalties.

  • Increased Awareness: The VAPT process educated the Informatrixit Team on the importance of proactive security measures, leading to the implementation of continuous monitoring and regular vulnerability assessments.


Lessons Learned

  • Clear Communication is Key: Ensuring constant communication between the IT support team, security team, and stakeholders helps address issues quickly and reduces downtime during testing.

  • Comprehensive Preparation: Preparing the environment and implementing a strong backup plan is crucial to avoid disruptions.

  • Continuous Security Improvements: VAPT is not a one-time exercise but should be a regular part of the organization’s security lifecycle.


Conclusion

By providing effective VAPT assistance, the IT infrastructure support team helped the client not only enhance their cybersecurity posture but also adopt best practices for vulnerability management that will improve their security for the long term. This case study highlights the importance of a well-coordinated support team in managing the complexities of vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.