Anadolu Efes speeds up threat detection and response using Microsoft Defender and Sentinel

Anadolu Efes, headquartered in Istanbul, is the largest brewer in Türkiye and one of the top 10 globally according to the BarthHaas Report. It operates in over 180 countries and has plants in Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Georgia. The company, part of the Anadolu Group Holding, reaches out to almost 400 million consumers with over 100 beer brands, such as Efes Pilsen, Miller, Corona, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Erdinger, and more.

At Anadolu Efes, around 3,000 people rely on the company’s IT services to perform their daily work tasks. As the company grew, its cybersecurity setup became too complex to manage. “We relied on a fragmented mix of on-premises and cloud systems from various vendors. This made it difficult to maintain a unified security posture and protect our business,” notes Mehmet Temiz, Chief Information Security Officer at Anadolu Efes. “It urged us to search for a more comprehensive, natively-integrated cybersecurity solution.”

A strategic partnership to enhance cybersecurity

Anadolu Efes, in line with Anadolu Group IT Presidency, decided to fully migrate to the cloud for a cost-effective and efficient solution. “We realized that transitioning to the cloud would save time and effort and cut costs for setting up infrastructure and performing maintenance. Since cloud solutions are always evolving, it would also provide continuous improvements,” explains Temiz.

Next, the company and the Group started evaluating possible solutions and implementation partners while considering Anadolu Group’s cybersecurity motto: ’Increasing business resilience against cyber threats by harmonizing people, process, and technology.’ Anadolu Efes was already using Microsoft 365, which made the decision to deepen its partnership with Microsoft and its managed security service provider, ADEO, a natural fit. “Microsoft’s strategy aligned well with our goals, prompting us to build a strategic partnership. Moreover, when evaluating solutions, we saw Microsoft’s strong positioning on the Gartner Magic Quadrant, which reinforced its value, maturity level, and popularity as a customer reference,” Temiz adds.

In 2023, Anadolu Efes decided to upgrade to Microsoft 365 E5. It also implemented Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Identity, and Cloud to protect devices, Microsoft Sentinel for threat detection, Purview for data governance and compliance, and Intune to protect user identities and manage access.

“The transition was smooth; we built a strong project governance model and had a team of the best experts in Türkiye,” remarks Temiz. “Once we implemented Microsoft Defender solutions, we developed the managed detection and response (MDR) services, with ADEO’s team available around the clock to monitor threats. Finally, we implemented Microsoft Sentinel, which enabled us to have extended detection and response (XDR). As Anadolu Efes, we are the only company in Türkiye using end-to-end all Microsoft security products.”

Improved visibility and faster response

With this new, all-in-one setup, cybersecurity tools work together seamlessly, giving Anadolu Efes full visibility and protection across all IT environments. “We've gained a complete view of anomalies on endpoints, including potential attacks, vulnerable files, downloads, and more. We’ve also gained visibility into end users' devices with Microsoft Intune, which is a significant improvement from a cybersecurity standpoint,” Temiz adds.

With a 360-degree view and automated alerts from Sentinel, managing security and monitoring the IT environment requires less effort. “We’re saving time and effort during both implementation and ongoing management,” Temiz shares. “We’ve improved our security posture without enhancing the burden on our team, so this change has been well-received by our staff, especially top management.”

Most importantly, with more centralized visibility, the company can respond to threats faster. “Our security posture has improved dramatically. With Microsoft Defender XDR capabilities managed by ADEO, we achieved an average of 15-minute detection and 30-minute resolution times,” highlights Temiz. “We also measure our cybersecurity maturity level according to the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework—after implementing and managing Microsoft security products, particularly the Defender family and Sentinel, we've improved our maturity level by six points.”

Finally, by securing its IT infrastructure with Microsoft solutions, Anadolu Efes is better positioned to serve its customers and cultivate trust. “Ultimately, the aim of every cybersecurity team is business continuity,” explains Tahir Celebi, Director of Architecture and Technology at Anadolu Efes. “Reducing risk ensures business continuity, which is the most important part of our job. If we lose business continuity, we won’t be able to serve our customers and consumers, which is critical. It also affects our reputation in the market. Being on the safe side and maintaining continuous operations instills trust in our consumers.”

Looking ahead to more advanced technologies

Anadolu Efes plans to continue evolving its cybersecurity strategy and exploring new technologies to further enhance protection. Temiz shares, “We are closely following the developments with Microsoft Purview, which promise to improve efficiency and extend coverage for endpoints and platforms.” These advancements are expected to strengthen the company’s data protection and compliance capabilities. Reflecting on the journey, Celebi emphasizes the importance of choosing the right partner, “Microsoft has been continuously developing its security strategy and enhancing its cybersecurity solutions with the newest, most advanced technologies. For anyone deciding on a partner and a solution, Microsoft should be at the top of the list, like it was for Anadolu Efes and Anadolu Group.”