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A Case Study of Solutions for an Iowa based Municipal Services Department
With just a two-person IT team for a workforce of 150 people, the Iowa-based County of Hardin struggled to stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity threats. Their IT environment had become increasingly complex due to each department having its own software needs. Gaps in their cybersecurity became clear, particularly as they tried to meet strict insurance requirements for immutable backups and comprehensive security measures. They needed a partner who could provide the necessary expertise and solutions.
In 2021, the County of Hardin met Port53 — a call that the IT team later described as the “best phone call I never meant to answer.” Their partnership with Port53 began with a Cisco Umbrella trial, providing DNS and IP layer security to shield the county’s network from malicious websites and malware. This initial success led to a gradual, comprehensive overhaul of their cybersecurity infrastructure, managed by Port53. Within three months of deploying Umbrella, theCounty of Hardin adopted Cisco Duo for multi-factor authentication (MFA), enhancing security by limiting unauthorized access. Five months later, they implemented Cisco Email Security to protect against phishing and other email-based threats.
As their trust in Port53 grew, the County of Hardin expanded their security measures further. They added penetration testing to identify and address
vulnerabilities, deployed Cisco Secure Endpoint and transitioned to a managed XDR (Extended Detection and Response) solution, and most recently, upgraded from Cisco SecureX to XDR, marking a significant step forward in their cybersecurity journey. Throughout this period, Port53’s team worked closely with the County of Hardin, providing guidance and support every step of the way.
The County of Hardin has expressed deep satisfaction with their partnership with Port53. The IT team appreciates that Port53 not only provides top-tier cybersecurity solutions but also acts as an extension of their own team. Alerts that occur off-hours are promptly handled byPort53’s SOC-as-a-Service, allowing the county’s IT team to rest easy knowing their systems are in capable hands. As quoted by the County of Hardin IT Team, “Port53 has been a game-changer for us. We were always winging iton our own, but as security requirements became stricter, we knew we needed help. With Port53, we not only get the right solutions but also the right people to help us when we need it. They bring something new to every meeting, and we’ve never had a bad experience with them.”
One standout moment in their collaboration was when a Microsoft-related issue disrupted email services across the
county. The Port53 engineering team quickly diagnosed the problem and walked the County of Hardin through the necessary command shell fixes, resolving the issue in half a day—a task the county’s IT team acknowledges they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish on their own. The County of Hardin’s journey with Port53 demonstrates the power of a well-matched partnership in transforming an organization’s cybersecurity landscape. Port53’s ongoing support ensures that even a small IT team can manage a complex security environment with confidence.
