Case Study
Enhancing Data Security and Operational Efficiency
Integrated Best-in-Breed Solutions

Challenge

AHEAD faced the formidable task of supporting a highly technical, rapidly growing workforce of over 2,500 employees. The core challenge: protecting both AHEAD’s and our clients’ sensitive and diverse data while accommodating a modern, mobile workforce, using limited IT and security resources. Unlike organizations with traditional, clear-cut data categories (e.g., Social Security numbers or healthcare records), our intellectual property and client data features complex structures and protection requirements. We needed a solution that not only kept pace with business growth but also automated and streamlined security operations to maintain efficiency without proportionally increasing staff.

Solution

To address these challenges, AHEAD implemented a tightly integrated technology stack including Rubrik (backup/data management), CrowdStrike (endpoint security), Zscaler (cloud security), and AWS (cloud storage). The decision to choose each solution was rooted in:

  • Demonstrated market leadership and robust partner integrations (e.g., Zscaler’s strong partnerships with Rubrik and CrowdStrike)
  • The need to support and secure a primarily remote, mobile workforce
  • The ability to efficiently manage and protect complex data types, especially intellectual property

A key integration involved leveraging Rubrik’s data management capabilities to create a comprehensive and accurate data library, which Zscaler then used for advanced data loss prevention (DLP) and threat identification. CrowdStrike bolstered endpoint security, and AWS provided resilient cloud-based backup. This modular, “spider-web” integration allowed us to mix and match solutions as needed — demonstrating that these best-in-breed tools could be adapted to a variety of technology environments.

Implementation

The integration was guided by principles of efficiency and scalability:

  • No large-scale, one-size-fits-all projects — instead, modular and containerized integrations allowed selective, effective pairing of solutions (e.g., Rubrik + AWS, or CrowdStrike + Zscaler)
  • Automation played a central role, reducing manual workloads and giving our small IT team the ability to deliver enterprise-level security outcomes
  • Decision-making was based on real-world needs and partner strengths (e.g., favoring Zscaler over alternatives due to superior integration and mobile workforce support)

Stakeholders from multiple teams, including security, HR, compliance, and legal, were considered for perspectives on data and operational resiliency.

Results

The implementation yielded significant outcomes:

  • AHEAD was able to support a rapidly growing workforce without a commensurate increase in IT/security staff. For example, while our employee base grew by approximately 30% in a year, security staffing did not, thanks to increased automation and integration-driven efficiency.
  • We saw a notable reduction in security incidents and manual workload, allowing resources to be focused where they add the most value
  • We improved visibility into the location and content of both AHEAD and client data, resulting in better protection of intellectual property and more confidence in regulatory compliance
  • We enhanced client confidence, as we can now demonstrate real, operational use of the very solutions we recommend

While precise numerical outcome metrics are still being compiled, AHEAD’s leadership highlights efficiency models that show material reductions both in resource requirements and incident response rates.

AHEAD runs on AHEAD solutions with proven outcomes – will your organization join us?