Enhancing cybersecurity resilience and operational efficiency with Elastic
The Employment Development Department (EDD) of California plays a vital role in administering essential services, including unemployment insurance, disability insurance, paid family leave, tax collection, and job matching. The onset of COVID-19 and subsequent surge in cyber threats prompted a significant evolution in EDD’s cybersecurity measures, leading it to partner with Elastic. This success story highlights how EDD transformed its cybersecurity division post-COVID, safeguarding critical data and improving operational efficiency with the implementation of Elastic’s solutions.
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A mission of security
EDD’s mission encompasses a broad spectrum of services aimed at providing short-term wage replacement, administering employee-funded disability insurance and paid family leave, and collecting employment-related taxes. As the second-largest tax collection agency in the United States, EDD’s role in maintaining secure and efficient operations has only intensified in recent years.
Challenges in cybersecurity
Prior to its collaboration with Elastic, EDD faced several cybersecurity challenges, especially during the pandemic. Its existing on-premise solution for cybersecurity proved insufficient for the rapidly increasing data volumes and cyber threats. The need for a robust, agile, and scalable solution became apparent.
“The pandemic really highlighted the gaps in our cybersecurity infrastructure,” said Christy Kidd, information technology manager at the California EDD. “We needed a solution that could scale with our demands and provide real-time insights into potential threats.”
The Elastic solution
EDD transitioned to Elastic Cloud, marking a significant improvement in its cybersecurity infrastructure. This move not only modernized EDD’s operations but also enabled it to ingest vast amounts of data from various sources more efficiently.
“The migration to Elastic Cloud was seamless and transformative,” Kidd remarked. “It allowed us to centralize our data and improve our response times significantly.”
Real-world impact: Stopping fraud in its tracks
One of the most compelling examples of Elastic’s impact at EDD is its ability to combat fraud. Kidd recounted an incident where Elastic’s technology was instrumental in identifying and thwarting a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme. By detecting unusual login activities across different IP addresses, Elastic enabled EDD to proactively address and stop fraudulent claims, ultimately safeguarding millions of dollars.
“We identified an account takeover where logins were occurring from disparate locations within minutes,” Kidd explained. “Elastic Security’s capabilities enabled us to halt these activities quickly and effectively.”
Enhanced efficiency and proactive security
Elastic’s role in EDD’s cybersecurity framework extends beyond fraud prevention — it has significantly enhanced EDD’s incident response capabilities as well. With Elastic Security, EDD now enjoys quicker search results, seamless data integration, and a comprehensive view of security incidents, all through a single pane of glass. This holistic visibility has reduced the time and effort required for manual data correlation, allowing the cybersecurity team to focus on high-priority threats and proactive security measures.
“Having all our data in one place has streamlined our operations and improved our ability to respond to incidents,” noted Kidd. “We can now act faster and with greater precision.”
Automation and AI: The future of EDD’s cybersecurity
Looking forward, EDD is investing in automation and AI-driven security analytics within Elastic to further optimize its operations. By leveraging the Elastic AI Assistant for Security, EDD aims to triage alerts more effectively, filter out false positives, and prioritize real threats. This strategic move not only enhances the productivity of its cybersecurity team but also ensures that critical resources are focused on genuine security issues.
Key success metrics
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Reduced incident response time: EDD’s ability to detect and respond to security incidents has improved significantly.
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Fraud prevention savings: EDD successfully safeguarded $10 million by identifying and halting fraudulent activities.
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Data integration: The seamless integration of vast data sources into Elastic enables holistic and real-time visibility.
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Operational efficiency: Centralized logging and analysis through Elastic has reduced manual effort and streamlined operations.
- Enhanced proactive security measures: AI-driven detection and response capabilities have bolstered EDD’s ability to mitigate threats swiftly.
A partnership for success
The partnership between EDD and Elastic has been marked by mutual commitment and continuous improvement. Elastic’s Consulting and Training teams have been critical in ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing success.
“Elastic’s Consulting team has been incredibly supportive. Their responsiveness and dedication to our success have made a significant difference,” remarked Kidd.
Building long-term cybersecurity resilience
EDD’s transformation with Elastic serves as a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and modern technology in enhancing cybersecurity resilience. By transitioning to Elastic Cloud, EDD has not only addressed immediate security challenges but also positioned itself for long-term success in a dynamic and challenging cyber threat landscape.
For organizations facing similar challenges, EDD’s success story underscores the importance of investing in scalable, integrated, and proactive cybersecurity solutions. With Elastic, EDD continues to safeguard vital services and protect the sensitive data of millions of Californians.
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The release and timing of any features or functionality described in this post remain at Elastic’s sole discretion. Any features or functionality not currently available may not be delivered on time or at all.
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