Modern security strategy required new tools.
A decade ago, Schnucks leadership set out to develop a proactive, risk-based IT security strategy to protect the business and create quality experiences for customers. In a financial environment requiring disciplined budgets and lean teams, the company’s legacy tools posed a myriad of challenges. The team set out to:
- Optimize and streamline the security stack.
- Increase visibility into the company’s endpoints, network and IoT devices.
- Improve detection and protection against unknown threats.
- Eliminate disruptive, expensive security incidents that diminished trust.
"We needed the people, process and technology to detect issues and respond right away."
Joey Smith
VP and CISO, Schnuck Markets
Platformizing with a trusted partner
Schnucks started its journey with Palo Alto Networks by replacing routers in its corporate offices, warehouses and storefronts with PA-Series Next-Generation Firewalls, delivering routing and security in one solution and blocking over 1 million threats in just 30 days. “The Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall is the perfect device for advanced networking and security in a single, lightweight box,” shares Marc Marien, Director of InfoSec and Network Engineering. “It even gives us 5G backup for added resiliency.”
The company then looked to build on this foundation by adding Cloud-Delivered Security Services for additional security treatment, in particular IoT Security for centralized visibility and control of IoT devices. Cortex XDR came next to replace legacy AV software for AI-powered endpoint security with extended detection and response. The solution prevents the vast majority of threats automatically, then pulls data from endpoints, network and cloud environments into a single data lake for streamlined detection, which is key to scale a small team.
Path to Platformization
Securing corporate offices, storefronts, and warehouses
Next-Generation Firewalls with Cloud Delivered Security Services
IoT visibility and control
IoT Security for devices such as shelf-scanning robots, smart refrigerators, and Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs)
Endpoint security with extended detection and response
Cortex XDR replaced legacy AV software and prevents business disruptions
Incident response and cyber risk expertise
Unit 42 Retainer provides experts on call to handle any cybersecurity event
Cloud native application protection platform
Prisma Cloud offers holistic visibility into cloud security posture with data security at every layer
-
Preventing attacks before they happen
![Solution]()
Palo Alto Networks solutions enabled Schnucks to strengthen protection against cyberthreats across the business while maintaining strong performance. Leveraging Cortex XDR, the team is projecting prevention of more than 300 malware attacks in a year, including attacks from known malicious actors such as Scattered Spider. Security incidents requiring costly remediation are a thing of the past, and the team can sleep at night knowing systems are safe. “Instead of being a disruption, we’re now able to strike the right balance between securing our assets and enabling the business to succeed, which has helped us earn the trust of our end users,” notes Mike Kissel, Director of Information Technology.IoT Security was also crucial in Schnucks getting a handle on newly connected devices brought on as part of digital transformation initiatives like Tally, the shelf-scanning robot deployed at over 100 locations. “Not only does the service instantly identify all devices connected to the network and its security posture, it also provides best practices on how to remediate devices that are at risk,” adds Chris Savala, Director of Information Security.
-
Maximizing investments and boosting efficiency
With Palo Alto Networks, Schnucks has consolidated multiple point solutions, saving a significant percentage of their annual budget and streamlining operations. Taking a unified platform approach has been essential to keeping the business running as budgets tighten across the retail grocery industry. Additionally, the ability to pull data from the company’s network, IoT devices, cloud and endpoints into centralized interfaces makes it easy to detect threats organization-wide and troubleshoot issues quickly so the team can stay efficient.
Palo Alto Networks solutions enabled Schnucks to strengthen protection against cyberthreats across the business while maintaining strong performance. Leveraging Cortex XDR, the team is projecting prevention of more than 300 malware attacks in a year, including attacks from known malicious actors such as “We’re a small team, so I need them to know one solution and know it well. With Palo Alto Networks, we can sunset point solutions and roll them into a consolidated platform for more efficient operations and cost savings.”
Joey Smith
VP and CISO, Schnuck Markets
-
Preparing for the next wave of growth
Moving forward, Schnucks is focused on increasing cloud adoption to give the business a platform to innovate without limits. The next step is to operationalize Prisma Cloud to enhance the visibility and protections of the organization’s critical assets in the cloud. Prisma Cloud offers threat detection, vulnerability management, runtime protection and data security, all delivered from a single platform for holistic visibility into Schnucks’ cloud security posture.
The company also purchased a Unit 42 Retainer to have incident response experts on hand should an incident occur. This team can immediately assess the severity of an incident and give Schnucks a remediation playbook using Palo Alto Networks solutions that are already deployed. “Partnering with an incident response firm that knows the tools and knows us inside and out is a huge advantage for speed to recovery—and peace of mind,” Smith confirms.
Building success on a foundation of trust.
“With Palo Alto Networks, we get world-class information security. But the real value is rooted in the relationship. They show up because they want us to win. And we win together.”
Joey Smith
VP and CISO, Schnuck Markets
share this story
