The Opportunity

A UK local government council faced a critical risk in its email infrastructure. Its hybrid messaging environment, including cloud-hosted Outlook services and on-premises servers, was approaching end-of-life and contained unpatched systems. Bulk mail services ran on unsupported IIS servers, leaving essential functions such as council tax and elections vulnerable. Additionally, security configurations did not follow best practices, increasing exposure to phishing attacks and other cyber threats. The council needed a secure, resilient, and maintainable email solution.

Our Approach

RedRock was engaged to review, remediate, and strengthen the council’s mail security. Key actions included:

• Conducting a full assessment of existing architecture, configurations, and security posture. Options and costings were provided to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
• Delivering a modern Secure Email Gateway (SEG) solution for bulk mail, enabling load balancing, performance optimisation, and alignment with Microsoft Exchange online limits.
• Working with procurement and suppliers to implement an on-premises SEG (Fortra), configuring the platform according to industry best practices.
• Collaborating closely with council IT teams to ensure capability uplift, knowledge transfer, and long-term maintainability.

Capabilities Used

• Discovery, Mail Cybersecurity, Stakeholder Management, Vendor & Supplier Management, Technical & Business Analysis, Delivery Management

Outcomes and Value Delivered

• Implemented a fully supportable, secure, and resilient mail platform.
• Upskilled council IT teams, enabling independent operation and optimisation of the solution.
• Supported procurement to ensure cost-effective supplier selection.
• Delivered a clear action plan for ongoing improvements beyond RedRock’s engagement.

Why This Matters

Email remains the primary vector for cyber attacks against councils. By implementing a robust mail security framework, the council significantly reduced the risk of breaches, safeguarding sensitive citizen data and maintaining public trust. This approach demonstrates how proactive discovery, security hardening, and capability transfer can deliver sustainable protection and resilience.