Leading Facility Services Provider Achieves Operational Continuity with Cohesive’s Secure Hosted IBM Maximo Solution

The Challenge

Cyberattacks are a constant and evolving threat to businesses of all sizes. Our client, a leading facility services provider, experienced this firsthand when a cyberattack crippled many of their core IT systems. This incident forced them to take all systems offline as a precautionary measure, severely disrupting operations and highlighting critical vulnerabilities in their existing IT infrastructure.

The attack underscored the urgent need for a robust and secure hosting solution that could protect their critical EAM, mobile, and scheduling systems from future threats. These systems are the backbone of their operations, enabling them to manage assets, schedule maintenance, and dispatch technicians efficiently. Any disruption to these systems could lead to costly downtime, compromised service delivery, and reputational damage.

The client recognized the need for a partner who could provide a highly secure and reliable hosting environment, allowing them to focus on their core business priorities without the constant worry of cyber threats and IT disruptions. They sought a solution that could not only safeguard their systems but also ensure business continuity in the face of any potential attacks.

Our Solution

Cohesive stepped in to provide a comprehensive managed service, leveraging the power and security of Amazon Web Services (AWS). We migrated their critical systems to a dedicated Virtual Private Cloud (AWS VPC), a logically isolated section of the AWS Cloud that provides the highest level of security.

Our solution went beyond just basic hosting. We implemented a multi-layered security approach that included:

• Industry-grade security standards: Adherence to stringent security protocols, including NIST, pciDSS, and HIPAA compliance, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data.
• Annual penetration tests: Rigorous testing by a third party organization to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities in the system.
• 24/7/365 proactive monitoring: Continuous monitoring of all systems, including custom Maximo monitoring, to detect and resolve potential issues before they impact operations. This includes infrastructure managed by the client, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
• Intrusion prevention system: A robust system to thwart cyberattacks and provide real-time reporting on any malicious activities.
• Monthly server maintenance and patch management: Regular updates and maintenance to keep the systems secure and optimized.
• Individual VPNs: Secure access to servers through individual VPNs, adding an extra layer of protection.
• Oracle DBA services: Expert database administration, optimization, and performance tuning to ensure optimal application performance.

This comprehensive suite of security measures, combined with our proactive monitoring and 24/7 incident support, provided the client with an impenetrable hosting solution and peace of mind.

The Client Benefits 

By implementing Cohesive-managed EAM solution, the client achieved significant improvements in security and operational efficiency. They were able to:

• Mitigate cyber security risks: The robust security measures implemented by Cohesive significantly reduced the risk of cyberattacks and ensured the protection of sensitive data.
• Ensure business continuity: The proactive monitoring and rapid response capabilities guarantee uninterrupted operations, eliminating downtime and ensuring service delivery.
• Reduce operational costs: By leveraging our managed service, the client was able to reduce their IT infrastructure costs and free up internal resources.
• Focus on core business priorities: With the security and stability of their systems assured, the client could focus on their core business of providing critical facility services.