deloitte cyber security case study

Type to search

Cybersecurity Case Studies and Real-World Examples

image courtesy pixabay.com

Table of Contents

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the battle between hackers and defenders continues to shape the digital domain. To understand the gravity of cybersecurity challenges, one need only examine real-world examples—breaches that have rocked industries, compromised sensitive data, and left organizations scrambling to shore up their defenses. In this exploration, we’ll dissect notable cybersecurity case studies, unravel the tactics employed by cybercriminals , and extract valuable lessons for strengthening digital defenses.

Equifax: The Breach that Shattered Trust

In 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies, fell victim to a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 147 million individuals. The breach included sensitive data such as names, Social Security numbers, birthdates, and addresses, leaving millions vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.

Lessons Learned

1. Patch Management is Crucial:

The breach exploited a known vulnerability in the Apache Struts web application framework. Equifax failed to patch the vulnerability promptly, highlighting the critical importance of timely patch management. Organizations must prioritize staying current with security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.

2. Transparency Builds Trust:

Equifax faced severe backlash not only for the breach itself but also for its delayed and unclear communication with affected individuals. Transparency in communication is paramount during a cybersecurity incident. Organizations should proactively communicate the extent of the breach, steps taken to address it, and measures for affected individuals to protect themselves.

Target: A Cybersecurity Bullseye

In 2013, retail giant Target suffered a significant breach during the holiday shopping season. Hackers gained access to Target’s network through a third-party HVAC contractor, eventually compromising the credit card information of over 40 million customers and the personal information of 70 million individuals.

1. Third-Party Risks Require Vigilance:

Target’s breach underscored the risks associated with third-party vendors. Organizations must thoroughly vet and monitor the cybersecurity practices of vendors with access to their networks. Note that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

2. Advanced Threat Detection is Vital:

Target failed to detect the initial stages of the breach, allowing hackers to remain undetected for an extended period. Implementing robust advanced threat detection systems is crucial for identifying and mitigating breaches in their early stages.

WannaCry: A Global Ransomware Epidemic

In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware swept across the globe, infecting hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries. Exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, WannaCry encrypted users’ files and demanded ransom payments in Bitcoin for their release.

1. Regular System Updates are Non-Negotiable:

WannaCry leveraged a vulnerability that had been addressed by a Microsoft security update months before the outbreak. Organizations fell victim due to delayed or neglected updates. Regularly updating operating systems and software is fundamental to thwarting ransomware attacks .

2. Backup and Recovery Planning is Essential:

Organizations that had robust backup and recovery plans were able to restore their systems without succumbing to ransom demands. Implementing regular backup procedures and testing the restoration process can mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks.

Sony Pictures Hack: A Cyber Espionage Saga

In 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment became the target of a devastating cyberattack that exposed an array of sensitive information, including unreleased films, executive emails, and employee records. The attackers, linked to North Korea, sought to retaliate against the film “The Interview,” which portrayed the fictional assassination of North Korea’s leader.

1. Diverse Attack Vectors:

The Sony hack demonstrated that cyber threats can come from unexpected sources and employ diverse attack vectors. Organizations must not only guard against common threats but also be prepared for unconventional methods employed by cyber adversaries .

2. Nation-State Threats:

The involvement of a nation-state in the attack highlighted the increasing role of geopolitical motivations in cyber incidents. Organizations should be aware of the potential for state-sponsored cyber threats and implement measures to defend against politically motivated attacks.

Marriott International: Prolonged Exposure and Ongoing Impact

In 2018, Marriott International disclosed a data breach that had persisted undetected for several years. The breach exposed personal information, including passport numbers, of approximately 500 million guests. The prolonged exposure raised concerns about the importance of timely detection and response.

1. Extended Dwell Time Matters:

Marriott’s breach highlighted the significance of dwell time—the duration a threat actor remains undetected within a network. Organizations should invest in advanced threat detection capabilities to minimize dwell time and swiftly identify and mitigate potential threats.

2. Post-Breach Communication:

Marriott faced criticism for the delayed communication of the breach to affected individuals. Prompt and transparent communication is vital in maintaining trust and allowing individuals to take necessary actions to protect themselves.

SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack: A Wake-Up Call

In late 2020, the SolarWinds supply chain attack sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community. Sophisticated threat actors compromised SolarWinds’ software updates, enabling them to infiltrate thousands of organizations, including government agencies and major corporations.

1. Supply Chain Vulnerabilities:

The incident underscored the vulnerability of the software supply chain. Organizations must conduct thorough assessments of their suppliers’ cybersecurity practices and scrutinize the security of third-party software and services.

2. Continuous Monitoring is Essential:

The SolarWinds attack highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and threat detection. Organizations should implement robust monitoring systems to identify anomalous behavior and potential indicators of compromise.

Notable Lessons and Ongoing Challenges

1. Human Element:

Many breaches involve human error, whether through clicking on phishing emails or neglecting cybersecurity best practices. Cybersecurity awareness training is a powerful tool in mitigating the human factor. Employees should be educated on identifying phishing attempts, using secure passwords, and understanding their role in maintaining a secure environment.

2. Zero Trust Architecture:

The concept of Zero Trust, where trust is never assumed, has gained prominence. Organizations should adopt a mindset that verifies every user, device, and network transaction, minimizing the attack surface and preventing lateral movement by potential intruders.

3. Cybersecurity Collaboration:

Cybersecurity is a collective effort. Information sharing within the cybersecurity community, between organizations, and with law enforcement agencies is crucial for staying ahead of emerging threats. Collaborative efforts can help identify patterns and vulnerabilities that may not be apparent to individual entities.

4. Regulatory Compliance:

The landscape of data protection and privacy regulations is evolving. Compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA is not only a legal requirement but also a cybersecurity best practice. Understanding and adhering to these regulations enhances data protection and builds trust with customers.

5. Encryption and Data Protection:

The importance of encryption and data protection cannot be overstated. In various breaches, including those of Equifax and Marriott, the compromised data was not adequately encrypted, making it easier for attackers to exploit sensitive information. Encrypting data at rest and in transit is a fundamental cybersecurity practice.

6. Agile Incident Response:

Cybersecurity incidents are inevitable, but a swift and agile incident response is crucial in minimizing damage. Organizations should regularly test and update their incident response plans to ensure they can respond effectively to evolving threats.

7. User Awareness and Training:

Human error remains a significant factor in many breaches. User awareness and training programs are essential for educating employees about cybersecurity risks , promoting responsible online behavior, and reducing the likelihood of falling victim to phishing or social engineering attacks.

8. Continuous Adaptation:

Cyber threats constantly evolve, necessitating a culture of continuous adaptation. Organizations should regularly reassess and update their cybersecurity strategies to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Conclusion: Navigating the Cybersecurity Landscape

The world of cybersecurity is a battlefield where the landscape is ever-changing, and the adversaries are relentless. Real-world case studies serve as poignant reminders of the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures . As organizations adapt to emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, IoT, and AI, the need for robust cybersecurity practices becomes more pronounced. Real-world case studies offer invaluable insights into the tactics of cyber adversaries and the strategies employed by organizations to defend against evolving threats.

Prabhakar Pillai

I am a computer engineer from Pune University. Have a passion for technical/software blogging. Wrote blogs in the past on SaaS, Microservices, Cloud Computing, DevOps, IoT, Big Data & AI. Currently, I am blogging on Cybersecurity as a hobby.

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Big four accounting firm suffers client data exposure

In September 2017, one of the big four global accountancy firms and also one of the biggest names in cyber security consulting (Gartner’s security consultancy of the year in 2016) disclosed that they had been the victim of a cyber attack which compromised a server that contained the emails of an estimated 350 clients, including four US government departments, the United Nations and some of the world’s biggest multinationals.

Despite assurances from the company that the hack had only “impacted” six clients and that it was confident it knew where the hackers had been. It said it believed the attack on its systems which began the previous year was over.

The company were criticised for their disclosures with some claiming the incident was more widespread than they acknowledged and that the company cannot be 100% sure what was taken given the nature of the attack (administrator credentials were stolen).

Triggered by the news of the data breach, the information security community relished the opportunity to investigate and expose what they considered to be poor security practiced adopted by company's employees.

Book a consultation

Want to discuss this case? You can purchase a 30 minute conference call with our analysts to discuss this case and the implications it has for your organisation. Just select the time and date that works for you:

• Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

We've done the analysis so you can make the decisions

$489.99 When purchasing a minimum of 5 Case Studies $699.99 if buying less than 5.

• Detailed cause & effect analysis
• Lessons learnt catalogued
• Preventive controls extracted

Partner Portal • Support ｜ English • Français • Deutsch • Español

Deloitte Cyber Intelligence Centre

Vuscape for round-the-clock operational security.

Today, risks are emerging faster than business can react. This creates the need for corporations to transform their thinking about cyber security. Everything that depends on cyberspace is potentially at risk. With the proliferation of Internet-enabled devices, cyber culture is growing more rapidly than cyber security.

Business advisory firm Deloitte has therefore launched a new Cyber Intelligence Centre that brings together a range of services to help companies monitor, analyse and respond to cyber threats 24 hours a day. In addition, the Centre uses business knowledge to provide tailored-made responses to specific business needs and threats. Working alongside organisations to contextualise the threat to their business, Deloitte can focus their attention on the right place at the right time to spot the signs of an attack before it turns into a crisis. To do this, they needed state-of-the-art security monitoring technology.

Gleich, the system integrator on this project, deployed the VuWall VuScape video wall controller along with the VuWall2 video wall management software to manage the Samsung 4×3 LCD video wall in the cyber security centre.

To provide round-the-clock business-focused operational security, Deloitte’s Cyber Intelligence Centre integrated state-of-the-art audio-visual technology from Gleich GmbH, Samsung, Creston and VuWall Technology. Today, they have all the visualization technology and AV solutions they need to meet the demanding 24/7 security monitoring requirements.

“ We have checked several systems in the market and the VuWall system offered all the features which were necessary to meet the project requirements, also the compatibility with the Crestron system was an advantage. During all the stages of the project we had excellent support from the VuWall team.”

Juan Ordonez, project manager at Gleich

“ We have chosen Gleich because we know from other that the quality of their work is extremely good and they know exactly what they do and what we need. We knew that what we will get from Gleich will meet our expectations, but with the functionalities and the flexibility of the VuWall system, our expectations were surpassed.”

Sebastian Renker, Enterprise Risk Services at Deloitte

About deloitte germany.

Related Products

A high performance video wall controller ideal for control rooms, collaboration rooms and corporate signage.

VuWall is proud to be a Preferred Vendor Partner of the PSNI Global Alliance

Talk to a video wall expert! We’re here to help!

Deloitte Case Interview (questions, process, prep)

Deloitte interviews are pretty challenging compared to regular interviews at large companies. The questions are difficult and the interview format is specific to Deloitte.

But the good news is that with the right preparation it can actually become relatively straightforward to succeed at a Deloitte interview. We've put together this ultimate guide to maximise your chances of success.

Here's an overview of what we'll cover.

• Introduction to Deloitte
• Interview process
• Regular case interviews
• Group case interviews
• Fit and PEI questions
• Preparation plan

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with Deloitte ex-interviewers

1. deloitte consulting is bigger than mckinsey + bcg.

Deloitte is a force to reckon with in consulting. In 2022, it generated ~$26bn in revenue from its consulting business line. This makes it about as big as McKinsey, Bain and BCG combined.

Deloitte Consulting grew through a series of acquisitions. As a result, it's a collection of relatively independent firms operating under the Deloitte Consulting umbrella. Each member firm is managed by local partners who are responsible for their P&L. This is why you get more variation across different offices and regions than you do at a firm such as McKinsey.

Deloitte Consulting has three main practice groups you need to be aware of when applying:

1. Strategy and Operations (S&O) focuses on topics such as corporate strategy, supply-chain improvement, business model transformation, process improvements, etc.

2. Technology consulting focuses on digital strategy, delivery of IT programmes, cyber risks management, designing and building tech-based solutions for clients, etc.

3. Human capital focuses on topics such as organisation transformation, change management, corporate learning and development, diversity and inclusion, etc.

In 2013, Deloitte acquired Monitor which was initially founded by Michael Porter, the father of Porter's five forces . Monitor is now part of Deloitte S&O and that brand is particularly strong in North America.

The type of work Deloitte S&O does is very similar to what you would do at McKinsey , BCG or Bain . If you'd like to learn more about how Deloitte (and the other Big 4 firms) compares to the MBB firms, check out our MBB vs. Big 4 guide . 

2. Deloitte interview process

Your interview process with Deloitte will depend on whether you're applying as an experienced or early career candidate. There is also some variation by country, so we recommend that you ask your local HR contact at Deloitte for more details.

Below is an outline of the most common interview process and will be correct for the majority of candidates.

2.1 Early career candidates 

As an early career candidate you can apply online. You'll need your educational qualifications to hand, and you'll need to meet the minimum requirements.

The next step is an "immersive online assessment". Here you'll be asked to look at work scenarios and answer how you would respond.

Once you've completed it, you'll receive a "bespoke feedback report about your strengths and abilities".

If you fail the assessment, you'll hear back within a couple of days, but if you pass it may take a week or two before Deloitte contacts you - so in this case, no news is good news!

If you pass, you'll go onto the next assessment step: the "job simulation". You’ll answer questions across formats that include writing, video, multiple choice and ranking. Make sure you're dressed correctly and are in a quiet place before starting the simulation.

After you’ve completed the simulation, you'll get an email letting you know how you did within four weeks.

If successful you would then have a "Final stage assessment", which is a video interview with a senior consultant or an online group exercise. This would be the last step in your interview process.

Click here for more information on the interview process for early career applicants.

2.2 Non-early career candidates

If you're an experienced candidate, or at least not an undergraduate or recent graduate, the interview process will probably consist of three steps:

• Resume and cover letter screening
• First round interviews
• Second round interviews

2.2.1 Resume and cover letter screening

First, recruiters will look at your resume and assess if your experience matches the open position. This is the most competitive step in the process—we’ve found that 90% of candidates don’t make it past this stage.

You can use  this free resume guide  and this  free cover letter guide  to help tailor your application to the position you’re targeting. 

And if you’re looking for expert feedback, you can also get input from our  team of  ex-MBB recruiters , who will  cover what achievements to focus on (or ignore), how to fine tune your bullet points, and more.

2.2.2 First round interviews

Your interviewers at Deloitte will consist of a mix of senior consultants, managers and partners. First round interviews may be done in person or via video or phone call. They usually consist of:

• one behavioural interview (30 to 45mins)
• one or two case interviews (30 to 45mins each).

This is quite similar to what you could expect at other consulting firms.

2.2.3 Second round interviews

Second round interviews are similar to first round interviews, though the line of questioning can be a bit tougher. Your final interview is usually with a hiring partner, and before that you may face a group case interview.

• One behavioral interview (30 to 45mins)
• One case interview (30 to 45mins)
• One group case interview (45mins - 1hr)

Now you've seen an overview of the interview process, let's take a detailed look at regular case interviews and group case interviews at Deloitte, and how you should prepare for them.

3. Deloitte case interview questions

Case interviews at Deloitte are candidate-led. The style is therefore similar to what you will experience in a BCG case interview or a Bain case interview . Our research and experience tells us that there 7 types of questions you need to prepare for in candidate-led case interviews:

• Framework development
• Framework exploration
• Quant question – Data provided
• Quant question – No data provided
• Creativity question
• Recommendation

You can learn more about case interviews and how to prepare in our free case interview guide . One unique thing about Deloitte case interviews is that they will occasionally (but not always) give candidates written materials and a few minutes to review before they start the interview. This type of scenario requires the kind of skills you could learn in our free written case interview guide .

Deloitte has produced some very useful material to help candidates prepare. Take a good look through this practice case .

Deloitte has also shared some example case studies that you can work through interactively:

• Deloitte case study 1: Federal health agency needs to respond to Ebola epidemic (Advanced)
• Deloitte case study 2: Talent management for the Civil Cargo Protection Bureau (Advanced)
• Deloitte case study 3: Engagement strategy for a huge federal agency (Undergraduate)
• Deloitte case study 4: Recreation Unlimited, a global apparel and sportswear company, must reverse declining market share (Undergraduate)
• Deloitte case study 5: Federal benefits provider needs to formulate its 10-year vision (Undergraduate)

All these strategy cases can all be found on Deloitte's case interview prep tool, along with some Application Program Analyst cases and Business Technology Solution cases.

4. Deloitte group case interview

As mentioned above, Deloitte also uses group case interviews in its final round. Here is the key information you need to be aware of for this interview format:

• Candidates get divided into groups of 4 to 6
• Each group is given information about a case (i.e. a client facing a problem)
• You are given 10mins to review the materials by yourself or with another person in your group
• You are then asked to discuss a few questions about the case for 20mins with the rest of your group in front of your interviewers
• The interviewers will ask a few questions to the group for 15 to 20mins

This type of case mainly tests your ability to work with others. Interviewers won't intervene during the group discussion. They will just observe the group dynamics and mark each participant based on how they are contributing to the discussion.

Here are the top 3 things you should aim to do in your Deloitte group interview:

• Speak with a purpose. At the beginning of a group discussion, a lot of candidates will want to speak their mind as they know participating is important. But participating is not enough. The QUALITY of your input is crucial. Sometimes, it's better to let two or three people get the discussion started. And to then make a very thoughtful point based on how they started the discussion. Focus on the quality of your input, not the quantity.
• Involve everyone. Another tip that's easy to apply is to keep an eye on who's participating in the conversation and who's not. If you identify a member of the group who's struggling to make themselves heard, you should not hesitate to help them be heard by saying something like: "We haven't heard everyone's opinion on this yet. John, Rebecca what do you think?"
• Summarise. Finally, at the end of the 20 minutes group discussion it's a good idea to summarise the different points people have made. This will position you as the person bringing everyone together and making sure all candidates are on the same page. It is something some partners in consulting like doing with clients in real life and will therefore reflect positively on you.

And the top 3 things you should really avoid doing :

• Looking nervous. Group interviews is the time to put your poker face on. Everyone is stressed in a group interview. But you need to try your best to come across as confident. A good way to do this is to focus on basic body language: look at people in the eye, sit confidently, don't cross your arms, etc.
• Interrupting others. Consultants need to be client-friendly, and interrupting someone in a discussion is not client-friendly at all. You should listen carefully to what others are saying. Try to have a genuine interest in what they think. Before making your point, summarise their point to show that you understand what they mean.
• Dominating the conversation. Finally, some candidates are so eager to participate in the conversation that they end up completely dominating the rest of the group without realising it. A good tip to avoid this is to keep an eye on how much time you talk. If you are in a 5-person group you should aim to speak 20% (1/5th) of the time and really no more than 25%.

Your performance in regular and group case interviews will play a big role in Deloitte's decision to give you an offer. If you'd like to learn more how to approach group interviews, check-out our  separate detailed  guide to group case interviews.

5. Deloitte behavioral questions

Behavioural interview questions asked at Deloitte fall into two categories:

• Fit questions. These are generic questions such as “ Why consulting? ” or “ Why Deloitte? ”.
• Personal Experience Interview (PEI) questions. These are questions such as “Tell me about a time when you led a team through a difficult situation.” Or “Tell me about a time where you had to manage a team conflict”

Here are the top 5 fit and PEI questions you should prepare for at Deloitte and other consulting firms.

Top 5 fit questions:

• Why Deloitte?
• Why consulting?
• Walk me through your resume
• Tell me about something not on your resume
• Tell me about your greatest accomplishment

Top 5 PEI questions. Tell me about a time when ...

• You led a team through a difficult situation
• You worked in a team and had to manage a conflict
• You had a disagreement with a colleague / boss
• You had to change someone's / a group's mind
• You overcame a really difficult challenge

Don't fall into the trap of under-preparing for these types of questions. While they may seem easier than the case interviews, they are extremely important to get right.

You’ll need to prepare several ”stories” or “examples” from your personal and professional experience to demonstrate that you have the traits that Deloitte is looking for.

To learn more, check out our guide to consulting fit / PEI questions .

6. Deloitte case interview preparation plan

Now that you know what to expect in Deloitte interviews, let's discuss the steps you should take to prepare.

6.1 Learn the case interview essentials

The best starting point for your case interview prep is our case interview prep guide . It'll take you through all the different types of questions you may be asked in your case interview, show you how to draw from different frameworks to structure your answer, and give you example cases to practise with.

6.2 Become really confident at maths

You don't have to have a perfect GPA or GMAT score to succeed at case interview maths. However, during your Deloitte  interviews, you will be expected to quickly perform accurate mental maths. 

In order to do this, it’s essential to know the formulas for common metrics, like return on investment or breakeven point. And it’s also helpful to know a few maths shortcuts to help you solve problems more quickly. To learn more about these topics, check out our free guide to case interview maths . 

In our experience, the most successful applicants start their interview preparation by practising maths skills, so make sure you prioritise this step.

6.3 Research the company

Deloitte interviewers want to hire candidates who are deeply motivated to work for their firm. Make sure you're up to date in the latest developments in the area of the company you're applying to join. Here are some useful links to get you started:

• Deloitte's insights page
• Deloitte's selection of business podcasts
• Financial Times' news articles on Deloitte

In addition, do some networking so that you can show you've made the effort to reach out to current staff.

6.4 Do mock interviews

How you solve each case is important, but your interviewers will also be evaluating how you COMMUNICATE your answers. It's important to speak in a structured way that makes it easy to clearly understand your points.

The best way to hone your communication skills is to practise interviewing out loud, and you can do that in three main ways:

• Interview yourself (out loud)
• Practise interviewing with friends or family
• Practise interviewing with ex-interviewers

To help you with this process, here is a  broad  list   of consulting interview questions  you can practice with.  Practising by yourself is a great way to get started, and can help you get more comfortable with the flow of a case interview. However, this type of practice won’t prepare you for realistic interview conditions.

After getting some practice on your own, you should find someone who can do a mock interview with you, like a friend or family member.

We’d also recommend that you practise 1-1 with ex-interviewers from Deloitte . This is the best way to replicate the conditions of a real case interview, and to get feedback from someone who understands the process extremely well. Meet our Deloitte ex-interviewers who’d love to work with you.

The IGotAnOffer team