Softline Helped Sever Auto Improve IT Infrastructure Security

2022: Windows Active Directory Infrastructure Survey for Compliance with Global Practices, Security Requirements, and Infrastructure Support

On December 27, 2022, the company Softline announced a survey infrastructures Windows Active Directory for the company for North Auto compliance with world practices, requirements safety for and support of infrastructure. During the technical audit, the Softline team identified potential, vulnerabilities affecting the performance and, software Microsoft network equipment as well as made recommendations for their elimination. This allowed the customer to strengthen the security of their infrastructure and reduce business continuity risks. The works were carried out as part of a comprehensive service - Premier Softline Services. 

Due to the transition to the updated version of Windows Server 2019, as well as with the growth of the organization and the increase in the number of users, it became necessary to audit the Active Directory directory service for potential vulnerabilities. In addition, the company was interested in mastering the functionality that opened with the transition to an updated version of Windows Server. These features were associated with strengthening the security of the authentication process, with other policies for assigning passwords and roles. First of all, North Auto sought to get away from weak and outdated authentication protocols in terms of security. All this prompted the company to turn to the professional Softline team, which has extensive experience with Microsoft software.  

Softline engineers offered to solve the client's problem using Premier Services. For more than three years, IT solution and service providers have been providing this comprehensive service in order to reduce business risks associated with use. Softline information technology is currently the only company in Russia that provides proactive support services IT infrastructures based on Microsoft products using specialized Softline Assessment software. All this made it possible to conduct a survey of the client directory service as efficiently as possible. 

The company recommends conducting a critical infrastructure audit, which is Active Directory, on a regular basis, once every 2-3 years. The directory service, like a living body, constantly changes as the organization develops - users are added and removed in AD, settings and client devices change. And these changes need to be systematically monitored. With Softline Assessment, a full-scale AD and safety survey takes only one week. The Company installs this software from the customer in advance for data collection and analysis. This solution, thanks to the built-in module of machine data analysis, allows you to quickly and without the influence of the human factor to get complete analytics about the current state of the infrastructure. All work took place remotely and as comfortable as possible for the client. The North Auto specialist connected through Teams, verified the information received, found out why certain settings were made in this way, and not otherwise, which helped us find out the causes of technical and operational problems. Based on this data, engineers prepared an expert opinion for North Auto containing all the information collected, a report on security risks and potential vulnerabilities, as well as recommendations for their elimination, explained Andrey Moiseev, Head of Softline Business Development.

After receiving a detailed audit report, the company can take one of two paths - either to improve the infrastructure on its own, or to implement changes using a dedicated Softline engineer. 

As a result of working with the Softline team, a clear and clear plan was obtained to eliminate the risks and shortcomings in Active Directory identified during the audit. The company has already begun to actively follow these recommendations, improving its business processes and eliminating factors that somehow affect the performance of the system. The infrastructure is increasingly secure, fault tolerant, and productive. As for the work itself, the audit process did not interfere with the current work in any way - moreover, already during the sessions, Softline engineers gave detailed explanations as to why they arose and how to eliminate certain shortcomings. Thanks to the project, it was begun to change its approach to organizing AD. For example, one of these "effects" is the introduction to the organization of a regular audit of rights for user accounts. This proactive approach will help secure your infrastructure, optimize your software support costs while maximizing the impact of software usage, and reduce business continuity risks. told Natalia Yashkina, head of the system support service of Sever Auto.