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Case Study

Ascot Group reduces risk and ramps up security with Palo Alto Networks

In brief

Client

Ascot Group

Industry

Insurance

Country

U.S., U.K., and Bermuda

Challenges

  • Found it increasingly difficult to manage outdated tools that didn’t work well together.
  • Lacked visibility, insight, and controls needed for a strong security posture.
  • Users suffered poor network experience, generating frequent service desk calls.
  • Struggled to bring new offices online quickly, affecting M&A activity.

Products & Services

  • PA-Series Next-Generation Firewalls
  • VM-Series Virtual Next-Generation Firewalls
  • Prisma® Access
  • Prisma® Cloud

Cloud-Delivered Security Services

  • Advanced Threat Prevention
  • Advanced URL Filtering
  • Advanced WildFire®
  • DNS Security
  • Enterprise Data Loss Prevention

Results

Better network performance, fewer service desk tickets.

  • 209k Threats blocked in 30 days.
  • HOURS vs DAYS to deploy new office environments.
  • Reduced service desk calls through improved network access and performance.
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Introduction

Ascot Group is one of the world’s preeminent specialty insurers, operating across the U.K., U.S., and Bermuda. After the challenges of the pandemic, the enterprise focused on accelerating digital transformation, moving apps and workflows from on-premises data centers to Azure while mitigating risks by incorporating Zero Trust principles. However, disparate legacy technologies couldn’t deliver the strong security posture the risk-sensitive company needed to protect customers’ personally identifiable information (PII) and comply with a changing regulatory landscape. The network was often unreliable and access was cumbersome, affecting productivity. As the company grew through mergers and acquisitions, it needed technology that could scale along with its needs.

CHALLENGE

Outdated tools block productivity and protection.

While transforming the business, Ascot Group:

  • Found it increasingly difficult to manage outdated tools that didn’t work well together.
  • Lacked visibility, insight, and controls needed for a strong security posture.
  • Users suffered poor network experience, generating frequent service desk calls.
  • Struggled to bring new offices online quickly, affecting M&A activity.
SOLUTION

Ensuring a strong future with a unified platform.

Ascot Group evaluated several vendors and chose Palo Alto Networks as its cybersecurity partner for future growth. The Palo Alto Networks unified platform—securely and seamlessly deployed with the help of consultant Squadra Solutions—offers Ascot Group greater visibility, scalability, and control.

With a single management console, the company standardizes policy and inspection for consistent security across the entire environment, including mobile users and on-prem and cloud infrastructure. Prisma Access enables reliable, high-performing, and secure access for all users, supporting the company’s shift to a hybrid work environment and freeing up service desk resources. The IT team is empowered to solve problems, eliminate threats, and onboard new acquisitions faster. Prisma Cloud measures compliance against industry frameworks across the enterprise’s Azure environment.

"Trust is the key to the relationship between Ascot Group and Palo Alto Networks. We trust them to supply us with best-in-breed products. But more than that, we trust that our future is safe in their hands."

– Ricky Wilcox

Senior Vice President of Infrastructure,
Operations, and Services Ascot Group

Products & Services Used

Prisma Access

Prisma Cloud

NGFW

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