Customer Background

MTN Ivory Coast (CDI), a leading telecom operator, sought to strengthen its application security posture and reduce downtime by transitioning its core digital platforms from Check Point to FortiWeb, a leading Web Application Firewall (WAF) solution. The primary objective was to enhance performance, conduct a security audit, and ensure continuous protection for mission-critical telecom applications handling high-volume user interactions.

Business Challenges

The organization encountered several operational and security challenges that hindered progress and affected service reliability:

• Failed Migrations: Previous migration attempts from Check Point to FortiWeb led to frequent downtime and incomplete transitions due to limited expertise and planning gaps.
• Service Disruptions: Each migration failure disrupted user experiences, impacting overall customer satisfaction and operational continuity.
• Legacy Risks: An outdated monolithic system struggled under high campaign traffic, creating vulnerabilities that traditional testing could not detect.

These persistent issues highlighted the need for a trusted VAPT service provider capable of identifying weaknesses through in-depth Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) while guiding a seamless FortiWeb deployment.

Solution Approach

• FortiWeb Migration: Ekfrazo’s cybersecurity consulting team executed a structured FortiWeb migration approach powered by real-time monitoring and Web Application Firewall (WAF) configuration best practices.
  
  The result: A smooth transition with zero downtime.

• Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VAPT): A Comprehensive VAPT service was performed across internal networks, IP ranges, and applications to identify gaps. Using advanced application security testing methodologies, vulnerabilities were identified and ranked by severity, forming the basis of actionable remediation steps.
• Security Audit & Remediation Framework: Post-assessment, a security audit validated the improvements, while technical support was extended to development teams to remediate vulnerabilities. A repeatable framework was also established to maintain compliance readiness and prevent recurrence of similar issues in future penetration testing cycles.

The Impact

The engagement delivered tangible improvements in both security and operational stability:

• Seamless Migration: FortiWeb migration completed with no service interruptions, reducing risk and ensuring consistent uptime.
• Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture: Strengthened security through VAPT services, security audits, and advanced application security testing.
• Operational Reliability: Improved visibility into network threats through integrated monitoring tools, enabling proactive defense.
• Compliance Readiness: Established a repeatable security framework through ongoing cybersecurity consulting, aligning with global standards and telecom compliance benchmarks.
• Sustained Performance: MTN Ivory Coast now operates a stable and secure digital environment capable of handling high-traffic scenarios without compromise.

This transformation positioned MTN CDI for long-term scalability while instilling greater confidence in our cybersecurity consulting and risk mitigation strategy.