Client Profile
The client is a multinational retail conglomerate operating in over 30 countries, with a workforce exceeding 80,000 employees and a diverse digital presence spanning e-commerce, logistics, and supply chain operations. Following a high-profile ransomware scare in a regional subsidiary and upcoming global compliance deadlines (GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS), the organization sought a unified, enterprise-wide security strategy to reduce risk exposure, enforce governance, and align with international cybersecurity frameworks.
Challenges Faced
Key security concerns included:
- Lack of a centralized cybersecurity governance model across business units
- Fragmented incident response processes and playbooks
- Disjointed risk assessment tools and inconsistent reporting metrics
- Inadequate visibility into third-party and cloud security posture
Solution
COE Security implemented a tailored Enterprise Security Strategy & Governance Program, combining:
- Maturity Assessment & Gap Analysis: Benchmarked current capabilities against NIST CSF and ISO 27001
- Unified Security Framework Design: Created an enterprise-wide governance model with centralized policies and delegated accountability
- Third-Party & Cloud Risk Visibility Tools: Deployed integrations to monitor external risk and enforce contractual controls
- Executive Workshops & Enablement: Engaged leadership through strategy sessions and business-aligned decision-making frameworks
Security Architecture & Operational Improvements
- Conducted enterprise-wide risk assessments and prioritized mitigation efforts
- Designed a tiered security architecture for core operations and regional branches
- Deployed centralized SIEM integration for real-time threat detection and response
- Streamlined incident response playbooks across 10+ global business units
- Enabled secure DevSecOps practices across application teams
Governance, Strategy & Compliance Readiness
- Established a Cybersecurity Steering Committee to drive executive alignment
- Developed a Global Cybersecurity Policy Handbook to unify standards
- Integrated risk heatmaps and maturity dashboards into CISO reporting
- Created audit-ready documentation aligned with NIST, ISO 27001, and local data privacy laws
COE Security’s Strategic Services Portfolio
- Enterprise Security Maturity Assessment
- Cybersecurity Governance Framework Development
- Security Architecture & Design Services
- Third-Party Risk Management
- Regulatory Readiness Consulting
- Incident Response & Business Continuity Planning
- Cloud & SaaS Security Strategy
- Executive Cybersecurity Workshops
- Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) Integration
- Board-Level Cyber Risk Reporting Enablement
Implementation Details
- Deployed centralized GRC tools across headquarters and five major regional hubs
- Integrated third-party and cloud risk insights into the client’s existing BI dashboards
- Delivered interactive training programs for 80+ global IT managers and security leads
- Authored and standardized policy manuals covering 20+ business functions
Results Achieved
- 100% coverage of cybersecurity policies across all business units
- 40% improvement in incident response time via standardized playbooks
- Achieved ISO 27001 readiness across core business functions within six months
- Elevated cybersecurity maturity score from 2.3 to 4.0 (out of 5) in under a year
Client Testimonial
“COE Security helped us go from reactive to proactive. Their strategy work didn’t just tick compliance boxes it empowered our teams, aligned leadership, and gave us real-time visibility into our risk. We now lead our industry in cyber maturity.”