CyberArk > Case Studies > CyberArk Identity reduces complexity, increases security for New Zealand Agricultural Organization

CyberArk Identity reduces complexity, increases security for New Zealand Agricultural Organization

Customer Company Size

SME

Region

Pacific

Country

New Zealand

Product

CyberArk Identity

Tech Stack

Single Sign-On (SSO)
SAML
LDAP

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Customer Satisfaction
Productivity Improvements

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Identity & Authentication Management
Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management

Applicable Industries

Agriculture

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Services

System Integration
Software Design & Engineering Services

About The Customer

New Zealand Avocado Growers Association (NZ Avocado) is the public face of the $130 million New Zealand avocado industry, created to promote the sale and consumption of avocados. As a non-profit, NZ Avocado manages research and development programs, coordinates and disseminates industry information, lobbies and liaises with government officials and provides a structure to foster growth across the industry. The organization serves over 1350 members, including growers, packers, exporters, and local marketers, providing them with access to specialized applications and tools necessary for compliance with international regulations and quality assurance.

The Challenge

Find a single sign-on solution to dramatically reduce complexity, minimize calls for password assistance, increase security and help keep users engaged and using key apps. Designed to act as a portal for growers, packers, exporters and local marketers, the NZ Avocado system provides access to highly-specialized apps including a Spray Diary to log essential information about growing activities, as well as an AvoTools app and associated websites used to ensure compliance to international regulations. In order for New Zealand growers to export overseas, they must register with the association and record all use of sprays on their orchards. This is an essential component in assuring quality, guaranteeing that international standards are met and protecting a multi-million dollar industry. But with over 1350 members, NZ Avocado was having significant issues with users logging into their applications and online tools. Each app required its own set of credentials for access and that meant users had to remember multiple passwords. Compounding the issue was the fact that each orchard required its own user name and password as well, so owners of multiple orchards often found themselves managing dozens of passwords. As a result, the NZ Avocado team was frequently inundated with calls for password assistance. The problem was so great that the organization resorted to keeping user names and passwords on a spreadsheet that was available to most of the office staff. Lacking its own IT department, NZ Avocado contacted IT consultant Andrew Nimick with Point Concept, and enlisted his help in finding a solution that would dramatically reduce complexity, minimize calls for password assistance, increase security and help keep users engaged and using the apps.

The Solution

NZ Avocado selected CyberArk Identity due to its feature set, its ability to reduce system load and incorporate legacy apps, and its ability to provide security at a reasonable cost. Nimick considered developing an in-house solution that could leverage Active Directory by building an LDAP service from the ground up, but that seemed too labor intensive. The best option was to find an SSO service provider whose solution could fit into the existing infrastructure with minimal pain and cost, and that would also give access to complementary features as the organization grew and evolved. Nimick started looking at different service providers, but found the response from most to be lacking. The response from CyberArk was anything but ordinary. After an evaluation of all options, Nimick recommended CyberArk Identity due to its feature set, its ability to incorporate legacy apps, and its ability to provide security and increase customer satisfaction at a much lower cost than building an in-house solution. In terms of future data sharing with government departments, the SAML component was also very important. SAML is the official protocol recommended by the New Zealand government for authorization and access control.

Operational Impact

Passwords are confidential and password sharing has been eliminated. User access is trackable. NZ Avocado has now implemented widely accepted security practices.
Unlike many organizations that implement leading technologies, NZ Avocado is not a corporate environment. The users are agriculture-focused and while many have experience with technology, they aren’t experts. The solution needed to be one that average, everyday people would see the value in, embrace the technology and use it regularly.
CyberArk Identity Single Sign-On has successfully crossed the generation gap to deliver an SSO solution across every app and site needed.
With CyberArk Identity, password sharing that was once rampant has been eliminated. Each user has their own unique identity, allowing NZ Avocado to track exactly who’s logging in and when.
CyberArk Identity has allowed NZ Avocado to implement a cultural change toward best practices and stronger security as they build new apps and strengthen partnerships.

Quantitative Benefit