| Industry | Financial Services |
|---|---|
| Organisation Size | 250–400 employees, multiple office locations in Qatar |
| Project Type | Cybersecurity Architecture & Endpoint Security |
| Technologies Deployed | Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR), Network Segmentation, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Security Risk & Gap Analysis |
| Project Duration | 6 weeks |
The Challenge
A financial services organisation operating across multiple locations in Qatar was relying on a combination of legacy perimeter firewalls, basic antivirus software, and flat network architecture that had not been significantly updated in several years.
Following an internal security review triggered by regulatory guidance from Qatar's financial sector oversight authorities, the organisation identified three critical gaps: absence of endpoint detection and response capabilities across approximately 320 workstations and laptops; a flat network architecture that would allow unrestricted lateral movement in the event of a breach; and no Multi-Factor Authentication on remote access or cloud application accounts.
The organisation required a structured cybersecurity upgrade that would address these gaps, align with applicable regulatory frameworks, and be completed without disruption to daily operations.
Our Approach
Noventrix Systems began with a comprehensive Security Risk and Gap Analysis — a structured assessment of the organisation's current security controls mapped against NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) standards and applicable financial sector regulatory requirements in Qatar.
The assessment identified 23 priority control gaps, categorised by risk severity. A phased remediation plan was agreed with the client's IT leadership and senior management, focusing on the highest-risk items in the first phase and maintaining full business continuity throughout.
What We Deployed
- Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): Replaced legacy perimeter firewalls with NGFW platforms incorporating Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), SSL inspection, and application control. Separate NGFWs were configured for each office location with centralised policy management.
- Network Segmentation: Redesigned the network architecture to create distinct security zones — separating user workstations, server infrastructure, financial application systems, and guest access into isolated segments with controlled inter-segment traffic policies.
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Deployed EDR agents across all 320 workstations and laptops, with centralised management and automated threat response capabilities. Full deployment completed in 6 days using a phased rollout that avoided end-user disruption.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implemented MFA across all remote access systems, cloud applications, and administrator accounts — covering approximately 340 user accounts.
- Security Dashboard and Reporting: Configured centralised visibility dashboards enabling the internal IT team to monitor threat alerts, endpoint health, and firewall activity — providing the ongoing visibility required for regulatory reporting.
The Outcome
The project was completed within the agreed 14-week timeline and budget, with zero unplanned downtime during deployment.
- Endpoint visibility increased from 0% to 100% — every device in the organisation now has active threat detection and response capability.
- Network segmentation eliminated the flat-network lateral movement risk identified in the initial gap analysis.
- MFA deployment reduced the organisation's credential-based attack surface across all remote access and cloud application accounts.
- The organisation achieved a documented improvement in NIST CSF alignment score from initial assessment to post-deployment review — supporting its regulatory compliance reporting requirements.
- The internal IT team reported a significant reduction in time spent investigating false-positive security alerts, due to the improved signal quality of EDR compared to legacy antivirus.
Related Services
Cybersecurity & Risk Management | Security Advisory & Governance | VAPT | Managed IT Services
Ready to take the next step?
Looking to strengthen your organisation's cybersecurity posture in Qatar? Speak to our team about a Security Risk and Gap Analysis as a starting point.
→ Contact Noventrix Systems: info@noventrix.com.qa
