Background: Securing a Sprawling Retail Network
For a prominent global furniture and home accessories retailer in the Middle East, securing an expansive and dynamic network across multiple countries presented a complex challenge. Each retail location, warehouse, and office demanded consistent security policies without impeding business. Gaining comprehensive visibility and control over thousands of diverse devices—from corporate laptops and POS systems to customer kiosks and IoT sensors—was paramount.
Navigating Network Complexity and Device Risks
Initially, this retailer faced several critical security hurdles:
- Limited Device Visibility: Struggled to identify all connected devices (known, unknown, rogue, misconfigured), hindering effective policy enforcement.
- Inconsistent Policy Application: Difficulties in applying uniform security policies across diverse network segments and device types, leading to potential gaps.
- Authentication Challenges: Complexities in efficiently integrating network access control with existing Active Directory for secure user and device authentication.
- Patch Management Burden: Labor-intensive manual processes for Windows updates left systems vulnerable.
- Scalability for Growth: Needed a security solution that could easily scale across new regions without extensive re-architecting.
To address these for their initial operations in Kuwait, the retailer sought a robust Network Access Control (NAC) solution capable of providing foundational security and supporting future expansion.
Solution: From On-Premise Success to Cloud-Managed Expansion
The retailer initially deployed Genian NAC (on-premise version) at its Kuwait operations. For two years, the solution consistently delivered exceptional network visibility and robust access control, validating its effectiveness through Genians’ non-disruptive, sensor-based approach.
Seamless Transition and Strategic Cloud Expansion
Recognizing this proven success, the retailer expanded Genian NAC to its operations in Jordan and Morocco. To centralize management across these multiple international sites, they seamlessly transitioned from the on-premise deployment to Genian Cloud-managed NAC.
Key aspects of this transformative solution include:
- Comprehensive Device Visibility: Genian NAC continued to provide in-depth insight into all connected devices, instantly identifying known, unknown, rogue, and misconfigured assets.
- Automated Policy Enforcement: Granular policies were consistently applied based on device identity and security posture, significantly reducing the attack surface.
- Efficient Authentication and Updates: Seamless Active Directory integration streamlined user/device authentication, and the Genian NAC agent ensured efficient, centralized Windows Updates.
- Centralized Cloud Management: The shift to cloud-managed NAC provided a single pane of glass for unified policy deployment and monitoring across all Middle Eastern locations, simplifying management.
- Strategic AWS UAE Service Cluster: To ensure optimal performance and support regional growth, Genians strategically added a service cluster within the AWS UAE region, guaranteeing low-latency and compliant service delivery.
- Flexible and Scalable Architecture: Genian NAC’s sensor-based design allowed for easy, non-disruptive expansion to new locations without impacting existing network or security environments, crucial for a growing global enterprise.
Summary: Scaling Security Across Global Retai
By leveraging Genian NAC, this global retail leader successfully evolved its cybersecurity from a single-country, on-premise solution to a scalable, cloud-managed model supporting multi-national expansion. The seamless on-prem to cloud migration, bolstered by Genians’ strategic investment in the AWS UAE region, demonstrates the platform’s adaptability and performance.
Key Outcomes for the Retailer:
Enhanced Security Posture: Achieved comprehensive visibility and robust policy enforcement across diverse IT, OT, and IoT environments.
- Streamlined Centralized Management: Gained efficient, unified control over security policies across all Middle Eastern locations via a cloud-managed platform.
- Seamless Global Scalability: Easily expanded network security to new regions due to Genian NAC’s flexible, sensor-based architecture.
- Optimized Operations: Improved device authentication and ensured consistent patch management.
- Future-Proof Foundation: Established a scalable, cloud-native security base ready for further global rollout to other international store locations.
This success story powerfully demonstrates Genians’ capability in delivering highly flexible, scalable, and centrally managed network access control solutions, offering a clear blueprint for other international organizations seeking to unify and strengthen their security operations across disparate geographic locations.
