Securing Sensitive Data in a High-Stakes Industry
For organizations in the aerospace and defense manufacturing sector, safeguarding proprietary and mission-critical data is a fundamental business requirement. When one European-based manufacturer began a major data center migration, protecting sensitive design files, operational data, and compliance-related information became a top priority.
“Any interruption or vulnerability during the migration could have had ripple effects across multiple programs,” said the company’s Head of IT Infrastructure. “We needed a solution that would secure the data in motion, without disrupting the timeline.”
With over 1,600 employees and hundreds of millions in annual revenue, this organization plays a key role in supplying systems and components to aerospace programs around the world. A smooth, secure migration wasn’t just about IT—it was about continuity, safety, and protecting intellectual property.
Complex Integration and Persistent Scanning Failures
The company’s initial approach relied on a homegrown, script-based system for scanning files in transit. However, this quickly became a bottleneck.
As volumes grew and demands intensified, the limitations of the legacy scanning method became clear:
- Integration Complexity: The team encountered technical difficulties integrating the file scanning components seamlessly into their workflow. Compatibility issues and unexpected errors hindered seamless data processing.
- Operation System-Specific Requirements: The customer’s strong preference for a Linux-based deployment introduced additional complexity, requiring tailored configurations and specialized expertise to ensure optimal performance.
- Fragile Script-Based Scanning Solution: The existing script-driven scanning approach was unsustainable—lacking reliability, scalability, and the ability to handle the growing volume of data efficiently. This limitation risked prolonged migration timelines and potential data integrity issues.
- Persistent Technical Roadblocks: Despite significant internal efforts by the client’s team, persistent scanning problems remained unresolved for over a year. The situation demanded urgent external intervention and a strategic, comprehensive solution to break the deadlock.
At one point, we were manually reviewing logs just to confirm scans were happening. That level of fragility wasn’t sustainable.
Senior Systems Engineer
A Purpose-Built Approach with MetaDefender Storage Security
To resolve the issue, the company partnered with OPSWAT and implemented a customized deployment of MetaDefender Storage Security, built specifically to align with their infrastructure preferences and performance goals.
Key elements of the solution included:
- Linux-Based Deployment: Two MetaDefender Storage Security instances and two MetaDefender Core 10 engines were configured for a fully Linux-native setup, providing stability and scalability.
- Scalability in Mind: The initial rollout served as a trial phase, with expansion planned based on performance metrics and long-term data growth projections.
- Enhanced Reporting: OPSWAT worked closely with the customer to revamp reporting capabilities, allowing for deeper visibility into scanning results, trends, and threat patterns.
OPSWAT didn’t just drop in a tool. They partnered with us to solve a real-world problem. We finally had a system that worked with our environment, not against it.
Senior Systems Engineer
Faster Migration, Stronger Security
With OPSWAT in place, the organization saw immediate and measurable benefits:
- Smooth Data Migration: Scanning processes were streamlined, allowing the data center transition to proceed efficiently and without security-related delays.
- Improved Threat Prevention: All files were scanned before transfer, eliminating the risk of hidden malware moving between environments.
- Future-Ready Infrastructure: The Linux-native solution was not only stable, but scalable—laying the groundwork for future data expansion without added complexity.
- Restored Confidence: After more than a year of searching for the right solution, the IT team gained renewed confidence in their scanning process and security protocols, knowing threats were being effectively detected and neutralized.
“We went from firefighting scanning errors to fully automated workflows,” said the Head of IT. “It was a turning point in how we think about file security.”
Looking Ahead: A Scalable Security Partnership for the Future
What began as a solution to a specific migration challenge has evolved into a long-term cybersecurity partnership. With the successful deployment of MetaDefender Storage Security, the organization has regained control and confidence in its data protection processes.
Looking forward, the company plans to expand its use of OPSWAT technologies to support additional security initiatives across its global operations. With a strong foundation now in place, future phases may include broader integration of multiscanning capabilities across other data environments, enhanced reporting for compliance, and automation-driven workflows to further reduce manual effort and risk.
By aligning with OPSWAT, the organization is not only protecting its current infrastructure but also building a scalable security strategy to support innovation and operational resilience in the demanding aerospace and defense sector.
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