Update Texware Amplifies Anomaly Detection and Network Visualization Capabilities with Progress Flowmon

Challenge

For over four decades, update texware GmbH has provided software for prominent companies in the textile industry and hundreds of partners across Europe, including its home market in Germany.

The company's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, texware/CS, is the foundation for its entire textile value chain—from yarn production to wholesale (sheep to shop). Update texware's customers utilize texware/CS every day to monitor and manage the weaving, knitting and finishing of their textile products.

Texware/CS is built on the enterprise application development platform, Progress® OpenEdge®. Over the years, Progress and update texware have built a trusting partnership and because of this, when update texware wanted to enhance its security practices, it once again turned to Progress.

Constantly working to improve its software and the software usability for its customers, update texware often collaborates with IT experts from other companies on initiatives like cybersecurity. As a result of the rapidly growing number of cyberthreats worldwide, update texware sought to conduct a thorough evaluation of its own cybersecurity strategy.

“We were—and are—very confident in our overall security infrastructure. There's nothing to complain about,” says Dr. Michael Schiffmann, CEO of update texware. “However, we are always looking at ways to make things better and we desired higher levels of network visibility.”

Protective measures have been in operation for years. In addition to the mandatory firewall, update texware has also deployed server- and client-side security platforms to provide higher levels of security. Building on that commitment to security, update texware sought to up-level its security posture even further by bringing on a Network Detection and Response (NDR) platform.

As update texware evaluated NDR options, they determined automated monitoring with minimal maintenance was necessary given their limited budget and IT resources. The solution also needed to be able to ingest and monitor data from a variety of resources, such as Microsoft Exchange servers and cloud-based solutions from other manufacturers.

Thanks to the years of collaboration with Progress and the positive experience with OpenEdge, update texware decided to deploy Progress' Flowmon network detection and response solution. Using Flowmon's AI-powered threat detection capabilities, update texware has benefited from enhanced network visibility and can pinpoint the root cause of network problems.

The practical implementation took place in two phases: a test phase and the live system rollout phase.

The aim of the test phase, which was supported by Progress, was to provide update texware information on how to configure the NDR solution correctly, as well as detail Flowmon's more notable features.

“The test phase and commissioning of Flowmon were unproblematic,” says Thomas Reinhardt, software developer and system administrator at update texware. “It worked because we clearly defined one use case. The more clearly the business case is outlined, the better you can plan resources and the easier it is to implement in practice.”

Results

Flowmon NDR assists update texware with anomaly detection in network communications and provides automated protection measures. Other advantages include detection of attempted account hacks with internal network monitoring and insights into network operations with network performance monitoring.

From the first tests to the official rollout, the project phase took three months. Schiffman described it as, “a pleasantly manageable period of time for a project of this immense scope.” Implemented at both company locations, the AI-powered Flowmon platform monitors access to the internet, while helping to secure the IT infrastructure outside of business hours by issuing alerts tied to unusual activity and automatically locking communication in the event of a suspected attack.

“The absolute most important thing for us was and is protecting ourselves against internet cyberattacks, without restricting our operations. Just a short time after implementing Flowmon, we experienced the its positive impact. And thanks to automation, we can let our nerves rest after work,” explains Schiffmann.

The CEO adds, “In the future, we plan to significantly expand our use of Flowmon and fully utilize its extensive portfolio of features and functionality. For now, we are however, completely happy – and above all, safer.”

About update texware

Update texware has been considered the ERP provider for the textile and clothing industry for decades. The tried-and-tested all-in-one standard solution texware/CS is used worldwide throughout the entire textile value chain - yarn production, textile fabric production, finishing, clothing and trade. Both in fully integrated companies and in highly specialized production and trading companies. To learn more, visit https://www.texware.de