F.W. Webb Introduces QRadar SIEM into Its Security Plumbing

Leading Heating and HVAC Supplier Heats Up Security Infrastructure with Addition of Real-Time Monitoring

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Q1 Labs, the global provider of total security intelligence solutions, today announced that F.W. Webb, the largest plumbing, heating, HVAC and industrial pipe, valves and fittings distributor in New England and New York, has implemented Q1 Labs’ QRadar SIEM. F.W. Webb deployed QRadar to achieve real-time monitoring and analysis of network activity, and to ease the process of conducting compliance audits.

In late 2009, F.W. Webb began evaluating solutions that would provide visibility into the network traffic taking place across their 70+ stores, with the goal of enhancing network security to better protect customers’ personally identifiable information (PII) and more easily meet PCI compliance mandates. In the first phase of its deployment, F.W. Webb uses a portable QRadar device that is shipped to each of the 70 individual stores if they’re experiencing any abnormal activity on the network.

“All of our stores can talk directly to each other, without having to pass through the corporate network,” said Laurence MacCall, Chief Architect, Security and IT, for F.W. Webb. “We keep one QRadar device at our corporate headquarters to monitor all internal traffic, making sure our network is running at optimal performance. We have another QRadar device that we ship to individual sites if a problem or disturbance is reported. This gives us the most visibility into what is or has taken place on the network.”

F.W. Webb has 1500 client PCs all connected via a legacy 1.5MBs MPLS; its corporate office houses all of the production servers, such as file and database servers. When Laurence joined the company, he was tasked with re-designing the network, and with developing and maintaining the majority of the company’s internally developed service applications. The flexibility of the QRadar Security Intelligence Operating System made it straightforward for F.W. Webb to integrate their proprietary applications into the Q1 Labs solution. From there, Laurence implemented QRadar to provide an ongoing, real-time view of the network and security.

“We rely pretty heavily on QRadar; there’s a team of eight of us that use it to monitor network traffic and generate different reports. Even our CTO uses it to deliver feedback to executives,” continued Laurence. “QRadar has freed up so much time for us to do other things. We used to receive multiple calls every week from individual stores reporting an issue with the network; with QRadar, we are able to proactively monitor the network to prevent any bottlenecks or issues. We now receive one to two calls a week, tops.”

“Knowing that we have improved daily operations for a customer is the best compliment we can receive. We work closely with customers on a daily basis, and through our Customer Council, to ensure we’re providing them with the resources they need to secure their networks,” said Chris Poulin, Chief Security Officer at Q1 Labs, and Head of the Customer Council. “Laurence has a unique network architecture with an abundance of applications developed in-house, yet he was still able to get QRadar up and running in 15 minutes. That’s a true testament to the intelligence, integration and automation of our QRadar SIEM.”

Over the next few months, F.W. Webb plans to expand its QRadar deployment with the intention of equipping each of the 70 store sites with its own QRadar device. This larger deployment will provide the F.W. Webb team with heightened visibility into network activity at the individual stores.

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About F.W. Webb

FW Webb Company is the largest plumbing, heating, HVAC and industrial pipe, valves and fittings distributor in New England and New York. Since 1866, F.W. Webb has continuously serviced its customers in New England and upstate New York. Currently, the Webb network is comprised of over 70 locations offering the complete package of Plumbing, Hydronics, HVAC, LP Gas Products, Biotech, Valve Automation and Pipe-Valves-Fittings.

About Q1 Labs

Q1 Labs is a global provider of high-value, cost-effective next-generation security intelligence products. The company's flagship product, QRadar SIEM, integrates previously disparate functions – including risk management, log management, network behavior analytics, and security event management – into a total security intelligence solution, making it the most intelligent, integrated and automated SIEM product available. QRadar SIEM provides users with crucial visibility into what is occurring with their networks, data centers, and applications to better protect IT assets and meet regulatory requirements. Q1 Labs is headquartered in Waltham, Mass., U.S.A., and the company's customers include healthcare providers, energy firms, retail organizations, utility companies, financial institutions, government agencies, and universities, among others. For more information, visit Q1Labs.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 781-250-5800.

Q1 LabsNicole Czarnecki, 781-250-5829
PR manager
[email protected]

Source: Q1 Labs