In an era of sophisticated cyber threats and evolving regulatory requirements, security cannot be an afterthought. We embed zero-trust principles, compliance frameworks and continuous monitoring into every solution we deliver, ensuring our clients are protected from the ground up.
Security is not a product you install; it is a discipline you embed across every layer of your technology estate. These case studies demonstrate how we help organisations implement robust security architectures that protect against modern threats while enabling business agility.
A London-based investment management firm with over 2 billion pounds in assets under management identified significant gaps in its security posture following a board-commissioned independent review. The review found that the firm's flat network architecture, reliance on perimeter-based defences and inconsistent identity controls created unacceptable risk exposure. Hibba was engaged to design and implement a comprehensive zero-trust architecture across the entire technology estate.
Our security architects conducted a thorough assessment of the firm's existing infrastructure, applications, data flows and user access patterns. We mapped over 300 application dependencies, identified 15 high-risk lateral movement paths and documented 40 service accounts with excessive privileges. This assessment formed the foundation of a phased zero-trust implementation roadmap aligned with the NIST 800-207 zero-trust architecture framework.
The implementation centred on five pillars. First, we deployed Azure Active Directory as the unified identity provider with Conditional Access policies enforcing multi-factor authentication, device compliance checks and risk-based access controls for every resource. Second, we implemented micro-segmentation using Azure Firewall and network security groups, eliminating the flat network and isolating workloads by business function and data classification. Third, we deployed CrowdStrike Falcon as the endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution across all endpoints, providing real-time threat visibility and automated response capabilities.
Fourth, we implemented Microsoft Purview for data classification and data loss prevention, ensuring sensitive financial data was labelled, encrypted and monitored throughout its lifecycle. Fifth, we established a security operations centre (SOC) using Microsoft Sentinel, with custom analytics rules, automated investigation playbooks and integration with the firm's existing ticketing system for incident management.
The deployment was completed over four months with zero disruption to trading operations. Since go-live, the firm has experienced zero security breaches. Mean time to detect (MTTD) threats improved from days to under 15 minutes, and mean time to respond (MTTR) decreased from hours to under 30 minutes. The firm's cyber insurance premium was reduced by 25% at the next renewal, reflecting the improved security posture. The architecture has since passed external penetration tests and regulatory examinations by the FCA without findings.
A national healthcare provider operating across 30 sites faced increasing scrutiny from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) regarding its handling of patient data. An internal audit had revealed gaps in data processing records, inconsistent consent mechanisms across digital platforms and a lack of formal data protection impact assessments for new technology initiatives. The organisation engaged Hibba to deliver a comprehensive GDPR compliance programme and achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
We began with a full data mapping exercise, identifying every system, database and data flow that processed personal data across the organisation. This exercise uncovered over 200 data processing activities, 15 previously undocumented data sharing arrangements with third parties and several instances where data retention exceeded stated periods. We worked with the organisation's Data Protection Officer to create a complete Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) and remediate all identified gaps.
For consent management, we designed and implemented a centralised consent platform that integrated with the organisation's patient portal, appointment booking system and marketing communications platform. The solution provided granular consent capture aligned with each lawful basis for processing, with full audit trails and automated expiry management. We also implemented automated Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) workflows using Power Automate, reducing response times from an average of 25 days to under 5 days.
The Cyber Essentials Plus certification programme ran in parallel, addressing the five technical controls: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and patch management. We remediated over 150 technical findings across the organisation's Windows and Linux estates, implemented automated patch management using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager and deployed Microsoft Defender for Endpoint across all devices.
The organisation achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification on its first assessment attempt and passed a subsequent ICO audit with zero findings. Staff confidence in data handling improved measurably following a mandatory training programme delivered to all 3,000 employees, and the organisation now maintains a continuous compliance monitoring dashboard that provides real-time visibility into its data protection posture.
A multinational energy trading company with operations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia recognised that its internal security monitoring capabilities were insufficient to defend against the sophisticated threat actors targeting the energy sector. The organisation's small in-house security team was overwhelmed by alert volumes, and critical threats were being missed due to a lack of 24/7 coverage and advanced threat detection capabilities.
Hibba deployed a fully managed SOC-as-a-Service offering built on Microsoft Sentinel. We connected over 50 data sources including Azure Active Directory, Microsoft 365, firewall logs, endpoint telemetry, network flow data and custom trading platform audit logs. Our security engineers developed over 200 custom analytics rules tuned to the energy trading sector's specific threat landscape, including rules for detecting commodity market manipulation indicators, insider trading patterns and supply chain compromise attempts.
The SOC operates around the clock with tiered analyst coverage. Tier 1 analysts triage and investigate alerts in real time, Tier 2 analysts handle escalated incidents and threat hunting activities, and Tier 3 specialists lead incident response engagements and forensic investigations. Automated incident response playbooks handle routine threats such as phishing attempts, impossible travel detections and brute force attacks, freeing analysts to focus on advanced persistent threats and targeted attacks.
Within the first quarter of operation, the SOC identified and neutralised three previously undetected advanced persistent threat (APT) activities, including a spear-phishing campaign targeting the trading desk and a supply chain compromise via a third-party ETRM vendor. Monthly threat intelligence briefings provide the organisation's leadership with actionable insights into the evolving threat landscape, and quarterly tabletop exercises test the organisation's incident response readiness.
A UK government agency responsible for administering citizen services required a secure migration of its core applications and data to the public cloud. The agency processed sensitive personal data classified at OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE, and any migration had to comply with NCSC Cloud Security Principles, the Government Cloud Strategy and IL3 classification requirements. Hibba was appointed to deliver the migration with security as the primary design constraint.
We designed a secure Azure landing zone following NCSC guidance, with dedicated management groups for production, pre-production and development environments. Network architecture implemented a hub-and-spoke topology with Azure Firewall providing centralised traffic inspection, and all internet-facing services were protected by Azure Front Door with Web Application Firewall (WAF) policies. Connectivity to the agency's existing OFFICIAL network was established via a dedicated Azure ExpressRoute circuit with encryption enabled at the circuit level.
Data protection was addressed through a layered encryption strategy. All data at rest was encrypted using customer-managed keys stored in Azure Key Vault with HSM backing. Data in transit was protected using TLS 1.3 for all application communications and IPSec for infrastructure-level connectivity. We implemented Azure Confidential Computing for the most sensitive workloads, ensuring data remained encrypted even during processing.
Identity and access management was built on Azure Active Directory with Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time administrative access. All administrative actions required multi-factor authentication and were logged to a tamper-proof audit trail. Security monitoring was implemented using Microsoft Sentinel with custom rules aligned to the MITRE ATT&CK framework and integrated with the agency's existing SIEM for centralised visibility.
The migration was completed over six months with zero security incidents. The agency passed its post-migration IT Health Check (ITHC) with no critical or high findings, and the National Cyber Security Centre commended the approach as an exemplar of secure public sector cloud adoption.
A rapidly growing e-commerce platform processing over 500,000 transactions per month needed to achieve PCI DSS Level 1 compliance to secure partnerships with major card networks and payment processors. Their existing payment infrastructure had been built for speed rather than security, with several architectural decisions that created compliance gaps. Hibba was engaged to remediate the gaps, establish an ongoing compliance programme and implement a rigorous penetration testing regime.
We conducted a PCI DSS gap assessment against all 12 requirements, identifying 45 areas of non-compliance. The most significant issues included insufficient network segmentation between the cardholder data environment and corporate network, inadequate logging and monitoring of access to payment systems, and a lack of formal vulnerability management processes. We developed a prioritised remediation plan and executed it over 10 weeks.
Network segmentation was implemented using a combination of Azure Network Security Groups, application security groups and Azure Firewall rules to create a fully isolated cardholder data environment. We deployed Azure Web Application Firewall with custom rule sets to protect payment API endpoints, implemented tokenisation for stored card data using a PCI-certified vault service and established comprehensive audit logging with tamper-proof storage in Azure Blob with immutability policies.
The penetration testing programme was designed as a continuous security validation framework, not a one-off exercise. Quarterly external penetration tests are conducted against the platform's internet-facing attack surface, covering web application testing (OWASP Top 10), API security testing, infrastructure testing and social engineering assessments. Internal testing is performed semi-annually, including network penetration testing, privilege escalation testing and segmentation validation. All findings are tracked through a vulnerability management workflow with defined SLAs for remediation.
The platform achieved PCI DSS Level 1 certification through its Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) audit with zero non-compliance findings. The continuous penetration testing programme has identified and remediated over 200 vulnerabilities in its first year, preventing any from being exploited by malicious actors. Customer trust has improved measurably, with a 15% increase in payment completion rates attributed to the visible security improvements on the checkout experience.
Modern cybersecurity requires a multi-layered approach that addresses identity, network, endpoint, data and application security simultaneously. Our security practice covers the full spectrum of defensive and compliance capabilities.
Replace implicit trust with continuous verification at every layer. We design and deploy zero-trust architectures following NIST 800-207, implementing identity-centric access controls, micro-segmentation, device compliance verification and least-privilege access models. Every request is authenticated, authorised and encrypted, regardless of where it originates.
Navigate the complex landscape of regulatory compliance with confidence. We deliver end-to-end compliance programmes for GDPR, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, SOC 2 and sector-specific frameworks including FCA, NHS DSPT and NCSC guidelines. Our approach covers gap assessment, remediation, evidence collection and audit support.
Identify vulnerabilities before adversaries do. Our CREST-certified penetration testers conduct comprehensive assessments of web applications, APIs, infrastructure, mobile applications and cloud environments. We go beyond automated scanning, using manual techniques that simulate real-world attack scenarios and provide actionable remediation guidance.
Gain round-the-clock visibility into your security posture with our managed SOC service. Built on Microsoft Sentinel, our SOC provides continuous monitoring, threat detection, incident investigation and response capabilities. Custom analytics rules, automated playbooks and dedicated analysts ensure threats are identified and contained before they cause damage.
Secure the front door of your organisation with robust identity controls. We implement Azure Active Directory, Privileged Identity Management, Conditional Access, passwordless authentication and identity governance solutions. Our IAM implementations reduce the attack surface while improving user experience through single sign-on and self-service capabilities.
When a security incident occurs, every minute matters. Our incident response team provides rapid triage, containment, eradication and recovery services for organisations under active attack. We also help organisations prepare through incident response planning, tabletop exercises and playbook development, ensuring teams are ready when the worst happens.
We protect some of the UK's most security-conscious organisations, from financial institutions handling billions in transactions to healthcare providers safeguarding millions of patient records.
Whether you need a zero-trust architecture, compliance certification or managed SOC services, our security specialists are ready to help you build resilient defences that protect your organisation and your customers.
Get In Touch →