From Security Scares To Network Nirvana: How Micro Center Supercharged Its Cybersecurity

In today’s digital whirlwind, businesses need robust and reliable networking solutions to stay competitive. Micro Center, a leading tech retailer, understood this and partnered with Lumen to elevate their customer experience and streamline operations.

Micro Center is a tech lover’s paradise, offering everything from laptops to the latest gadgets. “We create a community for tech enthusiasts,” says Brad Kramer, CFO and co-COO at Micro Center. “We cater to the uniquely tech-minded customer.” He describes the customer experience as a blend of cutting-edge technology and the expertise of their associates, which together create a strong sense of community. “Our brand is built on that sense of community,” Kramer adds.

Brian Kemmerly, Senior Director of IT at Micro Center, shares, “Our stores are like playgrounds for tech enthusiasts. People love to come in, explore, test out the new tech and chat with our knowledgeable staff.”

At Micro Center, it’s not just about shopping; it’s about experiencing technology firsthand. With over 25 locations across the U.S., Micro Center is dedicated to delivering exceptional service both in-store and online. “We pride ourselves on creating an amazing in-store experience and extending that shopping experience online,” says Kramer.

Tackling Network and Security Hurdles

As Micro Center expanded, they faced new challenges. Ensuring consistent and reliable network performance across all locations became essential. During a holiday rush, a severe DDoS attack prompted them to reassess their security measures. This incident underscored just how crucial it is to have strong network and security solutions in place to prevent business disruptions.

With 20% of revenue coming from online orders picked up in-store, fast and reliable connectivity is key. “We offer an 18-minute product guarantee for online purchases picked up in our store,” Kramer explains. Protecting sensitive customer data and preventing cyberthreats was also a top priority. “We do about 8 million transactions a year,” Kramer details. “We have over 150 million records in our customer data mart. It’s critical to protect the data; it’s really at the core of what we do and the decisions we make as a business.”

Lumen Comprehensive Networking Solution

To address these challenges, Micro Center turned to Lumen. Lumen provided DDoS protection and ThreatX Bot Mitigation, allowing Micro Center to expand their services and support increasing customer demands. Kemmerly recalls, “During a proof of concept with ThreatX, a DDoS attack happened, and they minimized it quickly.” The success was undeniable, achieving a 97% reduction in a matter of hours.

The deployment moved from proof of concept to production in less than a month. With robust security measures in place, Micro Center can protect their network and customer data from threats. “Having partners like Lumen helps us ensure we have the right customer experience. As we scale and expand, it’s important that those partners can scale with us,” added Kemmerly.

Gene Fay, CEO of ThreatX, echoes this sentiment: “Our continued partnership with Lumen has exceeded all expectations. Together, we’ve integrated modern fundamentals into application security, driving a transformative approach to API security. By enabling real-time threat mitigation, we’re empowering businesses to stay ahead of emerging threats and providing continuous, adaptive security as the landscape evolves.”

Since implementing Lumen solutions, Micro Center has seen a 30% improvement in network performance, resulting in faster and more reliable service. “By partnering with Lumen and ThreatX, Micro Center was able to protect our critical applications from potential DDoS attacks during crucial times, without impact to our revenue or our customers,” says Kemmerly.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

Micro Center’s partnership with Lumen has been instrumental in overcoming networking challenges and achieving business goals. “I always want a go-to person with my vendors,” says Kemmerly. “Someone I can trust, who knows my business and how we work.” Reflecting on his relationship with Lumen, he adds, “Lumen has been very attentive and quick to respond. They always seem to find the answers or set up meetings with the right people, especially around threats.” Kramer adds, “As the business evolves and scales, having partners like Lumen in place to help prevent cybersecurity issues from happening is crucial.”

With Lumen advanced networking solutions, Micro Center is well-equipped to continue providing exceptional service and support. “Our partnership with Lumen and ThreatX has gone beyond day-to-day business; they are a critical extension of our security mitigation team. The additional layer of security, visibility into potential threats and trust we have with them has been proven time and time again. This peace of mind allows our team to focus on providing exceptional customer experience, while we mitigate possible threats in the background,” notes Kemmerly.

To learn more about Micro Center’s transformation, read the full customer success story.

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^{Current Lumen customer compensated for their endorsement.
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