Background: Securing a Modern Municipal Network
The City of Kitchener operates a complex municipal network vital for civic operations and public services. Facing a constant challenge to secure its ever-expanding array of network-connected devices—from PCs to IoT sensors—the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the need for enhanced network visibility and control. Maintaining robust security, ensuring compliance, and enforcing granular access policies without disrupting essential services are paramount.
Navigating the Complexities of Network Security Implementation
The city’s network operators consistently sought solutions to gain rapid, accurate device visibility and detect unknown, rogue, or misconfigured devices without interrupting IT operations. They needed to automatically classify all connected devices, logically group them, manage approvals, and block unauthorized access, all while maintaining high security compliance and network availability.
Solution: Genians’ Self-Service Approach Accelerates NAC Deployment
In its search for effective Network Access Control (NAC), the City of Kitchener discovered Genians via a Google search. What set Genians apart was its unique approach to solution validation: unlike vendors with multi-month PoCs involving sales teams, Genians empowered the City to conduct a successful self-service free trial directly from its website.
Leveraging Genians’ comprehensive online documentation and videos, the City’s team:
- Validated Key Functionalities Within a Couple of Weeks: Swiftly confirming core NAC capabilities.
- Achieved Rapid Device Visibility: Gaining comprehensive insights, easily identifying unknown, guest, and unauthorized devices.
- Automated Device Classification: Automatically classifying devices based on business requirements.
The City of Kitchener chose Genian NAC Cloud Enterprise via an Annual Subscription for its high security compliance and efficient network management. The solution’s technical capabilities and deployment approach included:
- Flexible & Cost-Effective Sensor Deployment: Virtual sensors were deployed at main locations, and for over 50 remote sites, the City opted for off-the-shelf Intel NUCs. This allowed them to install Genians’ software on readily available, low-cost hardware, achieving significant cost savings by avoiding the purchase of proprietary security appliances.
- Device Platform Intelligence (DPI): GDPI provided deep insights by correlating technology, business, and risk context (platform identity, risk score) for all connected devices.
- ARP Enforcement for Zero Trust: Implemented an ARP enforcement model to block untrusted devices by default, requiring no changes to existing switch or controller configurations, ensuring vendor-agnostic deployment.
- Contactless Deployment & Pragmatic Implementation: The overall deployment was seamless and non-disruptive, progressing from immediate visibility to robust policy enforcement.
- IT Security Orchestration and Automation: Streamlined security operations through intelligent monitoring and automated processes, including centralized dashboard management and customizable alerts via email, SMS, Slack, or Teams.
For further insights into the implementation, a webinar detailing the City of Kitchener’s experience with Zero Trust Security and Genian NAC is available: Watch this webinar replay on YouTube.
Summary: Redefining Cybersecurity Adoption for Public Sector
By embracing Genians’ self-service trial model and leveraging its flexible deployment options, the City of Kitchener successfully implemented a powerful NAC solution with unprecedented speed and efficiency. They gained immediate, accurate visibility and robust control over their complex municipal network, demonstrating a pragmatic and highly effective cybersecurity approach.
A Blueprint for Agile Cybersecurity in the Cloud/IoT Era
This rapid and successful implementation provides useful ideas for other organizations aiming to reform their cybersecurity foundations without sacrificing availability or exceeding budgets. The City of Kitchener’s experience serves as a compelling case study, showcasing how Genians enables robust cybersecurity and enhanced digital trust through efficient, self-driven evaluation, cost-effective deployment using standard hardware like Intel NUCs, and seamless implementation.
