How a Cybersecurity Company Centralized Their Data To Empower Aviation Clients
A leading aviation cybersecurity organization approached Mole Street to streamline the delivery of critical insights and updates to its clients. When new insights are discovered, the company shares this knowledge with clients, ensuring they remain vigilant and one step ahead of cyber threats.
Information is dispersed across specialized working groups that focus on a key area of the aviation industry, known as Communities of Interest (COIs). Members join whatever group is best aligned with their area of aviation and the unique challenges they face.
The company also offers additional support through its threat intelligence platform, Cyware. Members can access real-time data and actionable insights that help them detect, analyze, and clamp down on emerging cybersecurity threats.
However, their fragmented tech stack hindered its ability to share key cyber security data with members across different COIs. This limited the aviation cybersecurity firm’s ability to provide timely updates to members that would help protect aviation organizations from cyber threats.
Solution
Platform Integration and Optimization, Digital Experience and Design..
Industry
Aviation Cybersecurity Industry
Timeline
May 2024 - Present
HubSpot Products
CRM, HubSpot ContentHub
Problem
A Disjointed Tech Stack That Created Barriers to Sharing Key Aviation Insights
Data is the lifeblood of this specialized aviation security organization. It’s the cornerstone of their strategy to bolster client defenses against the perennial siege of cyber attacks. Their fragmented digital infrastructure made it challenging to monitor and manage member data, which in turn, also created obstacles in dispersing accurate information to its corresponding members.
Fragmented Tools and Siloed Data
The company’s operations relied on a collection of disconnected tools to manage, update, and communicate with members. These included:
- HubSpot for sending emails to members, such as event reminders or updates on cybersecurity developments.
- Microsoft for generating invitations and notifications related to COIs.
- Cyware for managing access to their proprietary threat intelligence platform.
However, these tools operated in isolation, with no integration to synchronize member data or streamline workflows. Each platform functioned independently, resulting in data silos—isolated pools of information that could not be easily accessed or shared across systems.
Reliance on a Manual Centralized Spreadsheet
Without an automated system to consolidate data, staff had to endure the travails of manually maintaining a centralized spreadsheet to manage:
- Approvers (CISOs): Tracking who was responsible for granting access to resources.
- Permissions: Recording member access to COIs and Cyware.
- Email Recipients: Listing members for communications sent via HubSpot and Microsoft.
This was an incredibly time-consuming and laborious process. Staff had to manually update the spreadsheet and replicate changes across multiple platforms. Moreover, these manual processes inevitably led to inconsistencies and mistakes.
Example
When a COI member’s role or permissions changed, staff had to:
- Update the centralized spreadsheet.
- Modify permissions in Cyware to reflect new access requirements.
- Adjust COI invitations and notifications in Microsoft.
- Update email communication settings in HubSpot.
What was the Cost of this Disjointed Tech Stack?
- Operational Bottlenecks: Disconnected systems slowed workflows and complicated daily operations.
- Inconsistent and Error-Prone Data: Manual updates led to frequent mismatches and outdated information.
- Delayed Communication: Critical updates were often delayed due to manual synchronization.
- Increased Security Risks: Outdated permissions exposed sensitive data to unauthorized access.
- Strained Resources: Repetitive tasks diverted staff from higher-priority initiatives.
- Compromised Member Experience: Delays and errors undermined member trust and satisfaction.
- Lack of Scalability: The tech stack couldn’t support the organization’s growth effectively.
The Goal
Creating a Unified System for Smarter Information Sharing
The primary objective of the project was to unify the aviation cybersecurity company’s tech stack and implement a centralized, integrated system that would streamline operations, eliminate data silos, and ensure accurate, timely sharing of critical information with members to help defend them against the threat of cybersecurity attacks.
Solution
An Integrated Tech Stack That Centralizes Data
Mole Street proposed a comprehensive solution centered on establishing HubSpot as the single source of truth. This would unify the firm's fragmented tools, centralize its data into one database, and ensure consistent, accurate data management across all platforms.
- Building a custom membership portal to enable members to manage their own information, permissions, and access to resources without relying on manual updates from staff.
- Automating workflows to eliminate repetitive manual processes, streamline updates across systems, and reduce the risk of errors.
- Implementing Single Sign-Ons (SSOs) alongside Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to enhance security and simplify the user experience. This combination ensures that members can securely access multiple tools and platforms with a unified login, providing both convenience and robust protection.
Unifying Member Data with HubSpot
An important step to unifying the tech stack was consolidating all member data into HubSpot to centralize information management. Using HubSpot as the central hub would enable seamless data flow between tools, ensuring automated synchronization and real-time updates across platforms.
Changes made in HubSpot—such as role updates or permissions—would instantly be reflected in integrated tools like Microsoft and Cyware, preventing staff from having to manually make member changes.
Building a Custom Membership Portal
Mole Street developed a fully customized membership portal hosted on HubSpot’s Content Hub. This would allow members to self-manage their profiles, access permissions, and COI participation on the portal.
Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and approvers would be able to quickly add, remove, or update member access without staff having to make these updates on the spreadsheet and multiple tools.
Migrating Member Records for Accuracy and Reliability
The project included a mass data migration from Microsoft systems into HubSpot to centralize member records, ensure data accuracy, and streamline information management across the organization.
Having data consolidated into a single platform would resolve data inconsistencies as a result of legacy processes, such as outdated member details, duplicate records, and incomplete information.
Enhancing Security and Accessibility
Using HubSpot, Mole Street would be integrated with Auth0, an authentication and authorization platform, to enhance account security and streamline the login process. This integration would enable secure and streamlined member access by supporting:
✔ Centralized Login Management: Members would log in securely through Auth0’s SSO functionality.
✔ Multifactor Authentication: Enhanced security measures that would ensure only authorized individuals could access sensitive systems and resources.
✔ Automated Access Control: Guest user accounts would be managed through workflows that synchronized with HubSpot, ensuring temporary accounts were created, monitored, and revoked as needed.
Automating Communication Workflows
Having HubSpot as the center of the firm's operations would improve the accuracy, speed, and consistency of its communication workflows. Through HubSpot, COI invitations, updates, and notifications would be fully automated, replacing the manual processes previously managed across multiple disconnected tools.
This would ensure that any new data was automatically synchronized across all integrated systems, maintaining consistency and allowing data to be easily updated across all platforms.
Streamlining Member Management with Self-Service Capabilities
The newly designed portal would provide members with self-service capabilities to simplify membership management. Members would be able to independently update team details, manage access permissions, and request COI participation directly through the portal.
Instead of waiting for administrative processing, changes would be made immediately and allow members to instantly access the resources they needed.
Results
A Unified Tech Stack That Enables Instant and Accurate Information Sharing
Prior to Mole Street, the aviation cybersecurity firm’s disjointed digital infrastructure created a slew of operational inefficiencies that hampered their ability to disperse the right information to the right members at the right time.
Client fulfillment hinged on time-consuming and error-prone manual processes, with a spreadsheet serving as the central hub for consolidating data. Staff struggled to keep member records up to date, manage permissions accurately, and ensure timely communication. This was problematic, given that information gathering and sharing was the crux of their services.
Now, the company thrive with agility due to a unified tech stack that uses HubSpot as the core data hub for managing member information, automating workflows, and streamlining communication across all integrated systems.
It’s a tech transformation that’s created a launchpad for growth. Having fewer manual processes powers greater operational velocity and mitigates the likelihood of errors. Information accuracy is elevated. Insights can be shared instantly. Communication with members is now seamless, timely, and more impactful.
Centralized Member Management
HubSpot served as the single source of truth for all member data, consolidating previously fragmented systems. This centralization allowed the firm to:
✔ Eliminate reliance on spreadsheets and disconnected tools.
✔ Reduce manual data entry and the risk of human error.
✔ Ensure consistent and accurate information across all platforms.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Automating workflows in HubSpot eliminated the repetitive manual tasks that previously slowed operations. Staff could now:
✔ Focus on strategic, high-value initiatives instead of administrative burdens.
✔ Streamline member onboarding and updates, reducing delays.
✔ Manage communication workflows from a single platform, significantly speeding up processes.
Improved Data Accuracy and Synchronization
The data migration into HubSpot resolved legacy issues such as outdated member details and duplicate records. With automated synchronization, any updates made in HubSpot were instantly reflected across integrated tools like Microsoft and Cyware, ensuring:
✔ Data consistency across all systems.
✔ Timely and accurate sharing of critical information.
✔ A reliable foundation for reporting and decision-making.
Elevated Member Experience
The introduction of a custom membership portal hosted on HubSpot empowered members to take control of their own data and access needs. Members could:
✔ Self-manage team details, access permissions, and COI participation.
✔ Make updates in real time without relying on administrative approval.
✔ Instantly access critical resources and aviation insights, reducing delays.
Strengthened Security
Integrating HubSpot with Auth0’s single sign-on (SSO) and multifactor authentication reinforced security by:
✔ Ensuring that only authorized users could access sensitive systems.
✔ Automating guest user access management, securely handling temporary accounts.
✔ Reducing vulnerabilities from outdated permissions or unauthorized access.
Faster and More Reliable Communication
By consolidating communication workflows in HubSpot, the aviation cybersecurity company could deliver COI invitations, updates, and notifications more efficiently. This automation:
✔ Ensured members received timely and relevant information.
✔ Improved engagement by eliminating delays caused by manual processes.
✔ Enabled consistent communication across all COIs.
Scalable and Future-Ready System
HubSpot provided the firm with a robust and scalable platform designed to meet current needs while adapting to future challenges. This included:
✔ Flexibility to integrate additional tools and features as needed.
✔ A foundation capable of supporting growth and evolving cybersecurity objectives.
✔ Long-term resilience to maintain operational excellence.
Hidden Costs and Cumbersome Customizations
The CRM was heavily customized with over 60 custom objects to manage both B2B and B2C processes. This complexity required substantial manual work to manage, placing a heavy burden on the team as they struggled to navigate unnecessary challenges.
Additionally, every customization, new feature, or additional support request seemed to have hidden costs, making it more challenging to manage their budget predictably.
Misfiring Campaigns and Data Blind Spots
The limited segmentation and automation features hindered WVDT’s ability to personalize its marketing efforts. Consequently, WVDT was forced to create broad campaigns that failed to maximize its marketing potential.
Creating marketing emails was cumbersome due to the complex interface and limited flexibility. This required external support, further complicating the workflow.
Moreover, Salesforce Marketing Cloud lacked integrated tools and features necessary for real-time analytics and detailed tracking. As a result, WVDT could not keep its finger on the pulse of user interactions. With no metrics to guide them, WVDT was flying blind in their marketing.
Poor User Experience and Increased Workload
WVDT’s B2B portal was outdated and dysfunctional. This created a barrier that prevented users from accessing vital information, managing advertising campaigns, as well as engaging with the Tourism Board.
Although the portal was built on a reliable CMS, it was dependent on receiving data from Salesforce custom objects. Consequently, this made the system rigid and awkward to use which provided limited control over the design and user experience.