Fortifying Defenses: Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Threats

How Corteq partnered with CISA to safeguard a vital national asset through advanced threat detection and incident response.

Case Study

Securing Critical Infrastructure: AI-Powered Cyber Defense for CISA

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September 13, 2023


At A Glance

In an era of escalating cyber threats, protecting critical infrastructure is paramount. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) faced an onslaught of sophisticated cyberattacks, from ransomware to state-sponsored espionage. Corteq Solutions delivered a robust, AI-driven cybersecurity framework that enhanced CISA’s threat detection, incident response, and overall security posture. By leveraging zero trust architecture, real-time analytics, and continuous training, Corteq enabled CISA to safeguard vital assets, maintain operational integrity, and ensure regulatory compliance in the face of evolving threats.

Challenge

CISA faced increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, including ransomware attacks, state-sponsored espionage, and insider threats, targeting critical infrastructure systems. Legacy security solutions struggled to keep pace, lacking the advanced analytics and threat intelligence needed to proactively identify and mitigate these risks. CISA needed a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that not only enhanced threat detection and incident response but also integrated with existing systems and ensured compliance with evolving federal regulations.

Solution

Corteq implemented a multi-layered cybersecurity solution, leveraging our expertise in zero trust architecture and AI-driven security:

  • Advanced Threat Detection: Deployed Corteq’s proprietary AI-powered threat detection platform, which analyzes network traffic, user behavior, and system logs in real-time to identify and prioritize suspicious activity with high accuracy. This platform integrated seamlessly with CISA’s existing SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system.
  • Incident Response: Developed and implemented a comprehensive incident response plan, incorporating best practices from NIST and other industry standards. Corteq’s team of certified incident responders provided 24/7 support during the implementation phase and ongoing managed security services.
  • Security Hardening: Conducted thorough vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security audits to identify and remediate weaknesses in CISA’s systems. Corteq implemented security hardening measures, including multi-factor authentication, least privilege access controls, and network segmentation.
  • Cybersecurity Training: Delivered customized training programs to CISA personnel, covering topics such as phishing awareness, password management, and incident response procedures. Corteq also provided ongoing security awareness training through online modules and simulated phishing campaigns.

Results

  • AI-Driven Threat Detection Platform – Implemented real-time network traffic analysis and behavioral anomaly detection, reducing false positives by 40% and increasing threat detection accuracy to 98.5%, enabling proactive mitigation of sophisticated cyber threats.
  • Zero Trust Architecture Deployment – Established stringent identity verification, micro-segmentation, and least-privilege access controls, resulting in a 60% reduction in unauthorized access incidents and a 95% decrease in potential insider threats.
  • Automated Incident Response Workflows – Integrated automated playbooks with CISA’s SIEM, cutting incident containment time by 70%, reducing Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) from 45 minutes to 13 minutes, and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) from 90 minutes to 30 minutes.
  • Comprehensive Vulnerability Management – Conducted over 200 vulnerability scans and penetration tests, reducing exploitable system weaknesses by 55% and achieving a 99.8% remediation rate within SLA timelines.
  • Security Awareness Training Program – Delivered tailored training and quarterly simulated phishing campaigns, improving employee threat recognition rates by 90% and reducing phishing susceptibility from 28% to 4% within six months.
  • Regulatory Compliance Assurance – Achieved 100% compliance with NIST SP 800-53 and FedRAMP standards, successfully passing three federal audits with zero non-compliance findings, and ensuring continuous adherence through automated compliance monitoring tools.

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