Maximum cybersecurity

Today, industrial companies operate from networked locations around the globe – and simultaneously on digital platforms that are constantly online. This opens up new opportunities, but also increases the risk of cyberattacks. How can security, compliance, and global collaboration be ensured at the same time? The Strama Group is breaking new ground here: with professional managed security services, the company protects its systems without restricting the flexibility and speed of its international work processes.

The challenge

IT Security across borders

As an internationally active group of companies, the Strama Group faces the full spectrum of global market challenges: uncertain supply chains further complicated by geopolitical shifts, rising price pressures, intense global competition, and diverse regulatory requirements across countries. Particularly in the case of government clients, regionally varying rules and obligations must be complied with. The Strama Group confidently meets these conditions with the high quality of its products and solutions.

From an IT perspective, it is important to ensure the infrastructural prerequisites for international cooperation within the group of companies as well as with customers and suppliers. The Strama Group must be able to react quickly to short-term changes in market conditions.

However, this IT and network infrastructure, which is designed for globalization, is in turn highly exposed to cyber risks. The group of companies was therefore looking for a security solution that would fully meet the needs of its international setup and threat situation. After reviewing various offers on the market, the Strama Group opted for the Managed Security Services from Vodafone Business.

The company

Global expertise in mechanical engineering and automation

The Strama Group is a group of companies comprising several specialists in mechanical engineering and automation technology. The subsidiary Strama-MPS, based in Straubing, Bavaria, develops special-purpose machines, systems, and complete solutions for the manufacture, assembly, and testing of complex technical components and products. AuE automation + engineering, based in Kassel, develops and produces assembly lines for axles and chassis components in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. F & K DELVOTEC, headquartered in Ottobrunn near Munich, is a global innovation leader in wire and laser bonding technology. And Multinorm d.o.o. in Croatia contributes to the design and manufacture of tools and systems for the automotive industry. The companies in the group have additional locations in Germany, Hungary, India, Mexico, China, and the USA.

The solution

Maximum cybersecurity with managed security services

Vodafone Business provides the Strama Group with important components for its site networking, such as MPLS connections for the company's German locations. It also supplies licenses for Microsoft 365. Mobile and landline telephony are among the communication products and solutions that the group of companies obtains from its Düsseldorf-based digitalization partner.

To introduce a global 24/7 cybersecurity solution, the Strama Group once again relied on its proven collaboration with Vodafone Business. As the general contractor, Vodafone Business assumed overall responsibility: First, the initial situation was analyzed together with Vodafone Security Consulting and the specific requirements were defined. On this basis, Vodafone Business developed a customized managed security service together with its partner Spike Reply.

From a technical perspective, this is a “managed SOC/SIEM” (security operations center for security information and event management).

The security concept is based on the Microsoft Defender for Business endpoint protection solution, which protects all devices involved, such as PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, peripherals, and network components. The security team handles configuration and operation and monitors security measures around the clock from a SOC. Security incidents are displayed to Strama Group IT department employees in the Microsoft Sentinel Center, the online dashboard that comes with the solution. At the same time, security experts report detected attacks and coordinate the necessary countermeasures, such as isolating endpoints, with the Strama Group IT team.

“The 24/7 support takes the pressure off our IT department while ensuring maximum cybersecurity. This allows us to focus our capacities on our core tasks,” explains Valentin Kainz, Head of IT & Digitization at the Strama Group. “The managed security solution offers us clear added value. It can also be scaled precisely to our needs.”

Valentin Kainz is very satisfied with the collaboration with Vodafone Business: “We can always rely on our contacts. The employees at Vodafone and Spike Reply in the Security Operations Center are highly qualified experts with a clear focus on cybersecurity. They complement our team perfectly. We greatly appreciate the close and trusting collaboration.”

The advantages

Managed security services for all endpoints

The managed security solution is based on Microsoft Defender for Business and protects all Strama Group endpoints – both nationally and internationally. In the Security Operations Center, the company's end devices and networks are monitored around the clock by a specialized team of experts. The IT department of the group of companies receives information about detected attacks both directly from the security experts and via the solution's central interface: the dashboard in Microsoft Sentinel.

As Head of IT & Digitisation at the Strama Group, Valentin Kainz is responsible for the global network of the group of companies and its cyber security. We spoke to him about managed security services and the collaboration with Vodafone Business.

What role does the networking of your domestic and foreign locations play strategically for the Strama Group?

Valentin Kainz: Being active worldwide is part of the basic concept of our group of companies. Strategically, this is also very important in order to be able to avoid regional bottlenecks, whether in supply chains or in market demand. IT services and telecommunications are crucial tools for us, without which we would not be able to maintain our business operations.

What specific IT solutions do the employees in your group of companies use?

Valentin Kainz: For standard tasks in the office environment, we use Microsoft 365 with the associated collaboration tools such as SharePoint. In addition, there are various CAD and database solutions for our product developers and production. The international orientation of our company requires that the data stocks of these solutions can be exchanged between our locations at any time in a reliable manner, but also in compliance with legal requirements.

Why did you choose the managed security services offered by Vodafone and Spike Reply?

Valentin Kainz: From our previous collaboration, we have come to know Vodafone Business as a reliable and competent partner. The task at hand was to ensure the cybersecurity of our company network worldwide. Vodafone's offering convinced us across the board. In addition, the managed service approach fits our needs well – it takes the pressure off our IT department, allowing us to focus our capacities on our core tasks.

Did the collaboration with the security experts at Vodafone Business and Spike Reply meet these expectations?

Valentin Kainz: The highly qualified experts at the Vodafone Security Operations Centre have a clear focus on cyber security. They complement our team perfectly. In the Microsoft Sentinel Centre, the dashboard that is part of the security solution, our employees can view the security status of the network at any time and are informed about attempted attacks in real time. We greatly appreciate the close and trusting cooperation.

Are there already plans for further joint activities with Vodafone Business?

Valentin Kainz: We want to further intensify our cooperation at an international level. One upcoming task, for example, is to improve our data management worldwide, taking into account local legislation on the storage of data in each country. Here, too, we are counting on Vodafone Business.

In an increasingly digitalised business world, the risk of companies falling victim to cyber attacks is also growing. From small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to SOHO businesses and large corporations, every organisation is potentially affected. Managed Security Services (MSS) offer comprehensive protection by outsourcing IT security tasks to specialised experts. But what specific benefits do MSS really bring to companies?

What are managed security services?

Managed security services encompass the professional monitoring, management and optimisation of a company's IT security by external service providers. This includes security operations centres (SOC), endpoint protection, firewalls, threat detection and compliance monitoring. For companies, this means security from a single source – around the clock – without having to make major investments in personnel or technology.

Conclusion

Managed security services are no longer a luxury, but a strategic success factor for companies of all sizes. They offer continuous protection, relieve the burden on internal IT departments, deliver flexible solutions and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Whether you are a global corporation or an SME, MSS enable professional protection of your digital infrastructure – efficiently, reliably and with transparent costs.

Vodafone Business offers professional managed security services – our experts will be happy to advise you free of charge on solutions that are tailored to your business.