UK Bank Case Study
How UK Bank Outmaneuvers Supply Chain Attacks with Real-Time Threat Intelligence from Team Cymru
Key Insights
Proactive Threat Detection
Identified adversary infrastructure changes before attacks materialized.
Extended Supply Chain Visibility
Monitored partner systems to detect signs of compromise before victims were aware.
Gained Operational Efficiency
Reduced investigation time and improved incident response processes.
Summary
A leading UK retail bank faced persistent challenges from repeat attackers, supply chain compromises, and limited external threat visibility. Relying on outdated intelligence feeds and lacking real-time data, the bank struggled to stay ahead of evolving adversaries.
By implementing Team Cymru’s Pure Signal™ Recon, the bank’s threat intelligence team gained unparalleled external visibility, enabling them to preempt adversary actions, monitor partner systems for compromise, and proactively defend their critical systems.
This transformation empowered the bank to move from reactive defenses to proactive cybersecurity, safeguarding customer trust and critical infrastructure.
The Challenges
As a prime target for sophisticated cyberattacks, the UK bank needed a way to anticipate adversaries’ tactics and protect its interconnected systems. With growing threats from retooling attackers and compromised supply chains. Standing between the security team and success were fragmented visibility and outdated intelligence feeds.
The security team faced several challenges because their existing tools couldn’t provide real-time insights and much needed actionable intelligence to stay ahead of adversaries.
Repeat Attacker Threats: Adversaries continually retooled their infrastructure to bypass defenses.
Supply Chain Risks: Compromises in partner systems posed threats of contagion through direct connections.
Stale Intelligence: Traditional intelligence sources provided delayed and incomplete data, limiting their effectiveness in real-time threat mitigation.
Fragmented Visibility: The bank’s inability to monitor external infrastructure left gaps in threat detection.
These factors created a need for a proactive solution capable of offering real-time visibility and actionable insights.
The Solution
By deploying Team Cymru’s Pure Signal™ Recon, the bank’s threat intelligence team transformed its approach to cybersecurity. Recon delivered unparalleled visibility into external infrastructures, enabling the team to trace adversary tactics and monitor partner networks for signs of compromise. The platform’s ability to consolidate intelligence and streamline workflows empowered analysts to prioritize high-impact threats, contributing to the bank’s proactive defense strategy. This transformation safeguarded critical financial systems and reinforced customer trust.
The following outcomes were gained from transforming its threat intelligence capabilities from reactive, to proactive:
Real-Time Threat Visibility
Recon provided unparalleled insights into adversary infrastructure and communications.
“Recon allowed us to understand what was happening beyond our infrastructure. Without that visibility, we were missing a big piece of the puzzle.”
Supply Chain Defense
The platform enabled proactive yet passive monitoring of partner systems, detecting ransomware attacks and other compromises before they impacted the bank directly.
“We knew partners were compromised before they did. It helped us protect ourselves and share intelligence with peers.”
Actionable Threat Intelligence
Recon’s real-time data enabled the team to track adversary tactics and update defenses dynamically.
“We were able to develop playbooks to pinpoint suspicious activity and act before it became a problem.”
Streamlined Investigations
The solution reduced manual workloads, allowing the team to pivot quickly between datasets and uncover malicious infrastructure.
“Recon fills in the missing link for threat investigations by showing us external traffic we couldn’t see before.”
Enhanced Collaboration
By sharing intelligence within financial sector networks, the bank contributed to collective defense efforts.
“Sharing findings strengthened not just our defenses but the entire financial sector.”
Demonstrated Results
Recon delivered measurable results that significantly enhanced the UK bank’s cybersecurity posture. Leveraging Recon’s insights, the team proactively mitigated adversary activities targeting their systems, including during high-profile global events that tested organizational resilience worldwide. The platform’s ability to deliver real-time visibility into both external threats and supply chain risks allowed the bank to address vulnerabilities rapidly, sharing critical intelligence and safeguarding operational continuity. Automated workflows further streamlined investigations, enabling faster, more efficient responses while maintaining uninterrupted services for customers.
Proactive Threat Mitigation
Identified and blocked 35 adversary IPs targeting the bank, enabling the team to neutralize additional threats.
Supply Chain Security
Detected Log4j vulnerability scanning in partner infrastructure, sharing intelligence to prevent widespread damage.
Improved Customer Experience
Ensured service uptime by distinguishing legitimate traffic from threats, avoiding disruptions to customer access.
Operational Improvements
Automated investigations reduced manual efforts, accelerating response times and enhancing precision in threat responses.
Conclusion
Through Team Cymru’s Pure Signal™ Recon, the bank transformed its cybersecurity posture, achieving proactive threat defense, streamlined operations, and enhanced collaboration. By closing visibility gaps and preemptively addressing risks, the bank safeguarded its customers, partners, and critical systems from emerging and evolving threats.
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