CASE STUDY
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For more information or
to request a demo, visit
www.eiqnetworks.com
Mount Wachusett Community
College Relies Upon EiQ
Networks for More Effective
IT Security Monitoring and
Log Management
Challenge
Solution
Results
After an eye-opening security
Mount Wachusett Community
With greater visibility into its
assessment, Mount Wachusett
College chose SOCVue® Security
network and security infrastructure,
Community College (MWCC)
Monitoring from hybrid security-
Mount Wachusett Community
concluded that it needed to boost
as-a-service pioneer EiQ Networks
College has now instituted a more
its security posture and adopt a
to provide 24/7/365 continuous
effective log management process,
highly effective approach to log
security monitoring throughout
gained additional IT support from
management and the prevention of
MWCC’s complex multi-campus IT
EiQ’s extensive SOC team, and
data breaches.
infrastructure.
is able to proactively monitor
its network around the clock for
potential cyber attacks.
EiQ is the perfect IT security partner for our organization. Not only does EiQ help us
meet our security assessment goals, it keeps us well-protected at all times.
Jim Miller, Senior Network Engineer, Mount Wachusett Community College
© 2017 EiQ Networks, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. EiQ, the EiQ logo, the SOCVue logo, SecureVue, ThreatVue, SOCVue, ComplianceVue, ForensicVue, and Continuous Security Intelligence are trademarks or registered trademarks
of EiQ Networks, Inc. in the US and/or other countries. All other product names and/or slogans mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
All information presented here is subject to change and intended for general information.
Lack of Sufficient Server Security and
Central Log Management Prompts Change
For more information or
to request a demo, visit
www.eiqnetworks.com
Mount Wachusett Community College is a lifelong learning community that is dedicated to
excellence in education and responsive to the changing needs of the communities it serves.
Its focus is the preparation of individuals for lives of fulfillment, leadership, and service in
a diverse and global society. It’s committed to engaging students in rich and challenging
learning opportunities within a small-college atmosphere that is known for its personal touch.
It serves students throughout North Central Massachusetts from its main campus in Gardner,
Massachusetts and three satellite locations.
Keeping in mind the size of our existing IT staff, we knew we needed help with our log
monitoring and evaluation process. Given this, EiQ Networks offers a managed service
that fits very well within our IT environment and budget.
Jim Miller
Before making the decision to partner with EiQ Networks, MWCC was lacking efficient security
on its server infrastructure. It also had no centralized system in place where it could gather
or review security logs effectively. As a result, MWCC’s IT staff was forced to physically review
the logs if they suspected there might be an issue. This was no small feat; given the size of the
college’s IT staff, these investigations would lead to valuable time being wasted. MWCC knew it
needed a solution from an established, trusted cybersecurity provider that would help make
sense of the vast log information produced by its servers. Given the current state of the cyber
threat landscape, the growth of malware and ransomware, and the increase of cyber attacks
against both private and public education institutions, MWCC knew that it needed outside
help to create a more secure environment for both students and administrators to ensure that
servers located on all four campuses were free from potential cyber threats.
The Search for a Trusted Security Partner
That Would Support MWCC’s IT Staff
For more information or
to request a demo, visit
www.eiqnetworks.com
With its main goal to prevent breaches, MWCC knew it required a central repository that would
collect all logs for public-facing devices. MWCC’s Susan McHugh, CIO, and Jim Miller, Senior
Network Engineer, were tasked with finding a budget-friendly, effective solution that would
achieve the college’s security objectives. McHugh is responsible for all IT-related functions at
the college and also for evaluating security software and services. Miller is responsible for the
network and server infrastructure, as well as implementing security on both. McHugh and Miller
are both experienced IT veterans, having held their positions together at MWCC for more than
a decade. Together, McHugh and Miller worked tirelessly to find the right IT security solution
that would fit their tight IT budget and criteria, and also supported their existing IT staff. While
researching IT security software and services, McHugh had heard about EiQ Networks through
a colleague at Fitchburg State University, who recommended EiQ’s SOCVue hybrid security as a
service for its quality, benefits, and effectiveness. After McHugh and Miller contacted EiQ and
received a one-on-one demonstration, they discovered SOCVue met their IT security criteria
and budget. “We considered another vendor for a brief moment, but in the end, the pricing and
managed security services being offered by EiQ were the best options for us,” said McHugh.
Now there are eyes and ears on our logs and network 24/7. EiQ is always watching our
infrastructure. Plus, we’re able to remediate issues proactively, which keeps us aware
of what is happening in our infrastructure and one step ahead of cybercriminals at all
times. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have this type of peace of mind when it comes
to cybersecurity. It really allows us to sleep better at night.
Susan McHugh, CIO, Mount Wachusett Community College
“Keeping in mind the size of our existing IT staff, we knew we needed help with our log
monitoring and evaluation process. Given this, EiQ Networks offers a managed service that fits
very well within our IT environment and budget,” said Miller. EiQ’s SOCVue Security Monitoring
provides MWCC with the deep insight into its network infrastructure and the SOCVue Portal
offers the centralized log management capabilities that the college didn’t have in the past.
“Now there are eyes and ears on our logs and network 24/7. EiQ is always watching our
infrastructure. Plus, we’re able to remediate issues proactively, which keeps us aware of what
is happening in our infrastructure and one step ahead of cybercriminals at all times. I can’t
tell you what a relief it is to have this type of peace of mind when it comes to cybersecurity. It
really allows us to sleep better at night,” said McHugh.
For more information or
to request a demo, visit
www.eiqnetworks.com
Two-hour Implementation Kick-starts
MWCC’s New and Improved IT Security
Program
Miller was pleased with the SOCVue Security Monitoring implementation process and how
quickly they were able to get up and running. “Thanks to EiQ, the implementation process was
pretty much a breeze. We went live with the SOCVue Security Monitoring service in about two
hours; it was very quick. EiQ’s SOC team was right there the whole time helping us set up the
SOCVue service and SOCVue Portal as well as assisting with configuring our specific security
alert needs. We were amazed by how quickly we started seeing real-time actionable data,” he
said.
MWCC has been fully operational on the SOCVue Security Monitoring service since late 2014
and has reaped the benefits of SOCVue’s Log Management, SIEM, security monitoring, and
deeper analytics, which have all led to ultimately having a much more secure network. MWCC
also benefits from EiQ Networks’ SOC team that provides expert guidance and assistance in
resolving issues. “EiQ is the perfect IT security partner for our school. Not only does EiQ help us
meet our security assessment goals, it keeps us well-protected at all times,” said Miller.
Thanks to EiQ, the implementation process was pretty much a breeze. We went live
with the SOCVue Security Monitoring service in about two hours; it was very quick.
EiQ’s SOC team was right there the whole time helping us set up the SOCVue service
and SOCVue Portal as well as assisting with configuring our specific security alert
needs. We were amazed by how quickly we started seeing real-time actionable data.
Susan McHugh
In closing, McHugh’s advice to other IT and security professionals who aren’t currently using
a security monitoring service to help improve their security posture and mitigate the risk of
security breaches is, “Storing your security logs in a central repository while having access to
security experts for evaluation is priceless. Anyone can set up centralized log management, but
you still need someone with solid IT security experience to help provide the fastest and safest
remediation guidance. Now, my team and I are fortunate enough to have EiQ provide this type
of expert guidance and more,” she concluded.
How Can EiQ Help You?
For more information or
to request a demo, visit
www.eiqnetworks.com
Having a clear view into your company’s network activity is one of the core foundations of a
strong security posture. The ability to monitor the level of traffic devices are experiencing
and what actions are being performed and by whom is a vital component of discovering
abnormalities in your network. Effective network security monitoring allows IT security
professionals to detect both external and internal behavior patterns and take immediate
action before suffering a cyber attack. Lastly, ensuring that your organization is completely
secure, specifically when it comes to log management, SIEM, security monitoring, and
meeting compliance requirements, is important for those in industries with strict compliance
regulations. EiQ’s SOCVue Security Monitoring service includes 24/7/365 security monitoring of
your environment by EiQ’s highly trained security professionals. The EiQ Security Operations
Center (SOC) team will analyze event data from across your IT assets and provide timely
notification of any security incidents along with remediation guidance. The EiQ SOC team filters
thousands of events down to a snapshot view in the SOCVue Portal so you can see the status of
your current security posture, allowing you to quickly determine what needs your attention.
About Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College has built a tradition of providing innovative
undergraduate education, workforce development, personal enrichment, and community
service to North Central Massachusetts, and beyond. Rooted in the community since 1963, the
college now serves approximately 12,000 credit and noncredit students each year. An awardwinning, national leader in the area of renewable energy and sustainability, MWCC is also
nationally recognized for its veterans’ services, civic engagement, and K-12 partnerships. The
college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and
other industry-specific accrediting organizations. For more information, visit: http://mwcc.edu.
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EiQ, a pioneer in hybrid security as a service, is transforming how
mid-market organizations build enterprise-class security programs.
Acting as an extension of our customers’ IT teams, EiQ provides
continuous security operations based on best-of-breed technology at
a fraction of the cost of alternate solutions. EiQ is a trusted advisor to
organizations that need to improve their IT security and compliance
posture and protect against cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
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About EiQ Networks
For more information or to request a demo, visit: https://www.eiqnetworks.com
© 2017 EiQ Networks, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. EiQ, the EiQ logo, the SOCVue logo, SecureVue, ThreatVue, SOCVue, ComplianceVue, ForensicVue, and Continuous Security Intelligence are trademarks
or registered trademarks of EiQ Networks, Inc. in the US and/or other countries. All other product names and/or slogans mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies. All information presented here is subject to change and intended for general information.