How a Growing BioTech Research and Manufacturing Company Overcame a Security Breach to Become a Leader in Their Industry

From a cybersecurity breach to being poised for rapid growth in 30 days. A cutting-edge biotechnology research and manufacturing company utilizes their proprietary technologies to address global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and industrial hygiene, with applications extending to military defense against chemical threats. An unforeseen cybersecurity breach that could have been disastrous for their business served as the catalyst for them to outsource IT and cybersecurity to DataTel and commit the necessary focus to grow their business. 

Challenges: Cybersecurity Breach and Compliance Requirements

Background

The company was in the process of managing a period of rapid growth while securing government contracts requiring strict cybersecurity compliance, including adherence to CISA guidelines and NIST standards. Their operations were disrupted when their email was compromised, leading to a cascading security breach that impacted their website and domain, taking their business offline for nearly a week. The breach originated from a phishing attack targeting an executive, which granted unauthorized access to their hosting provider. 

Impact
  • Loss of operational functionality for nearly a week
  • Significant reputational damage
  • Increased scrutiny from government agencies
  • The urgent need to enhance their cybersecurity framework 

Implementing a Secure and Scalable IT Infrastructure

The company engaged the DataTel team seeking immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. Given the urgency of their situation, we deployed a fully managed cybersecurity and IT transformation plan within 30 days. 

Key Actions Taken:
  • Access Recovery & Security Hardening: Internal staff initially regained access, but a comprehensive cybersecurity overhaul was needed.
  • Cloud-Based Security: Implemented Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) to unify their three locations under a single, secure network.
  • Identity & Access Management: Migrated operations from Dropbox to Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, eliminating shared credentials and enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
  • Endpoint Security & Compliance: Conducted a full workstation inventory, upgraded systems from Windows Home to Pro, and implemented audit logging.
  • Centralized IT Management: Established a Security Operations Center (SOC) and provided dedicated security advisory, network architecture, and help desk support.
  • Process Optimization: Streamlined onboarding for new employees through an automated provisioning system, allowing seamless configuration of email and role/permission based resource access. 

Results: A Secure and Scalable Future

The rapid transformation enabled the company to regain stability and enhance its cybersecurity posture, meeting stringent government contract requirements. In addition, the company was able to double in size with laser focus on hiring subject matter experts in their field without the distraction of recruiting and retaining hard to find IT staff. 

Key Outcomes
  • Business Continuity: Restored full operations within 30 days.
  • Improved Security & Compliance: Met CISA & NIST standards. 
    Operational
  • Efficiency: Enabled employees to collaborate securely via Microsoft Teams, eliminating risky practices like shared logins.
  • Enhanced IT Support: The company now benefits from a dedicated security operations team, network architects, and a responsive help desk.
  • Long-Term Scalability: As they continue expanding, the company can focus on their core innovations without the burden of hiring internal IT staff. 

Why They Chose DataTel

After evaluating multiple Managed Service Providers (MSPs), they selected our team due to our technical expertise and the depth of our cybersecurity solutions. Our ability to align IT strategy with their business goals and execute a rapid, comprehensive security transformation was a key differentiator. 

Looking Ahead

The company is now replacing networking equipment and migrating to a fully managed, cloud-based network infrastructure. With our Network Operations Center (NOC) managing their evolving IT landscape, they are well-positioned to scale their operations securely and efficiently. 

If you would like to discuss your cybersecurity posture and growth strategy with our IT services experts, schedule a consultation at your convenience.