Strengthens Financial Market Security Operations with Microsoft Sentinel Unified SIEM and Automated Threat Response
Implementing a centralized Microsoft Sentinel SIEM platform to unify hybrid security monitoring, automate incident response, and enhance regulatory-grade visibility across FMDQ’s financial market infrastructure.
A Mandatory Security Transformation Before Tenant Exit
FMDQ Group PLC, Nigeria's leading financial market infrastructure operator, lacked unified security visibility across its hybrid environment — leaving critical trading, clearing, and settlement platforms exposed to undetected threats and regulatory audit gaps..
- 1No centralized visibility across hybrid IT and financial systems
- 2Incident detection times of 3–5 days leaving threats undetected
- 3Compliance gaps with SEC Nigeria and CBN monitoring requirements
A Centralized Microsoft Sentinel SIEM and Automated SOC
Reliance Infosystems deployed Microsoft Sentinel as a centralized cloud-native SIEM across FMDQ's hybrid environment, integrating 15+ data sources, deploying 30+ KQL detection rules, and automating 60% of incident response workflows.
- 1Microsoft Sentinel unified monitoring across 15+ security data sources
- 230+ KQL analytics rules for financial-sector threat detection
- 360% of routine incidents automated via Azure Logic Apps playbooks
Business Impact.
The engagement delivered measurable transformation across security operations, compliance, and threat visibility for FMDQ's financial infrastructure..
- 1Reduced incident detection time from 3–5 days to under 15 minutes
- 2Deployed 30+ custom KQL detection rules for financial threat scenarios
- 3Achieved unified visibility across cloud and on-premises infrastructure
Detection Time
Data Sources Integrated
KQL Detection Rules
Incidents Automated
CASE STUDY overview
Microsoft 365 Security and Zero Trust Architecture
Industry
Financial Services
Country
Nigeria
Nomination Category
Security
FMDQ Group PLC, Nigeria’s leading financial market infrastructure operator, partnered with Reliance Infosystems to design and implement a centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution using Microsoft Sentinel.
The engagement delivered unified security visibility across FMDQ’s hybrid environment, enabling real-time monitoring, detection, and response to cyber threats across critical financial systems including trading, clearing, and settlement platforms.
The solution significantly improved FMDQ’s security operations maturity, reducing detection and response times while strengthening compliance with strict regulatory requirements from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria and other financial oversight bodies.
"Together, these capabilities transformed FMDQ's security operations from reactive investigation to proactive, automated threat detection and response."
How Microsoft Technologies Enabled the Outcome Reliance Infosystems
Zero Trust Capabilities Enabling Secure Tenant Separation
Microsoft Sentinel was deployed as the centralized cloud-native SIEM, enabling real-time correlation of security events across hybrid systems.
Over 15 data sources were onboarded, including Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft 365, Defender for Endpoint, firewall logs, Windows event logs, Azure platform logs, and on-premises Active Directory.
More than 30 KQL-based analytics rules were implemented to detect financial-sector threats such as suspicious sign-ins, brute-force attacks, data exfiltration, and anomalous activity.
Azure Logic Apps enabled automated workflows for ticketing, alert enrichment, and security notifications, reducing manual SOC intervention.
Azure Arc extended monitoring to on-premises infrastructure, ensuring full hybrid environment coverage without system migration.
Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365 Defender provided identity and email threat signals for enriched security correlation.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR enabled endpoint-level visibility and correlated attack-chain analysis across systems.
Azure Key Vault ensured secure storage and management of sensitive credentials and security artifacts.
Enterprise Security Outcomes Enabled by Microsoft Technologies
01
Unified Security Visibility
FMDQ achieved centralized monitoring across hybrid IT and financial systems for the first time.
02
Faster Threat Detection and Response
Detection time reduced from 3–5 days to under 15 minutes through automated analytics and correlation.
03
Automated SOC Operations
Approximately 60% of routine incidents were automatically handled through playbooks and Logic Apps.
04
Improved Regulatory Compliance
Enhanced ability to demonstrate continuous monitoring and incident response to SEC Nigeria and CBN.
05
Enhanced Threat Intelligence Correlation
Multi-AZ deployment improved availability and reduced risk of service disruption.
05
Reduced Operational Burden
Automation reduced manual log analysis and improved SOC efficiency.
Business Impact
The engagement delivered measurable transformation across security operations, compliance, and threat visibility for FMDQ's financial infrastructure.
Detection Time
Data Sources Integrated
KQL Detection Rules
Incidents Automated
Social Impact
The project strengthened trust, stability, and security across Nigeria’s capital market ecosystem by enhancing the cyber resilience of FMDQ Group PLC, a systemically important financial market infrastructure provider that underpins trading, clearing, settlement, and capital flow activities affecting banks, investors, regulators, and market participants.
By improving real-time threat detection and response across critical systems, FMDQ is better positioned to safeguard the digital platforms used by financial institutions, institutional investors, fintech partners, and regulatory bodies, ensuring safer and more reliable market operations. This reinforces confidence among stakeholders who depend on uninterrupted and secure financial market infrastructure for economic activity and investment decisions.
The transformation also contributes to broader economic stability and financial system resilience, reducing the risk of cyber disruptions that could impact liquidity, transaction processing, or market transparency. In doing so, it supports a more secure environment for businesses, issuers, and everyday participants indirectly connected to capital market activities through pensions, investments, and corporate financing structures.
Overall, the initiative strengthens the foundations of a trusted, secure, and resilient financial ecosystem in Nigeria, where critical market infrastructure can operate with greater assurance, transparency, and continuity.
Approach and Delivery Methodology
Reliance Infosystems delivered the engagement using a structured four-phase security transformation approach.
01
Scoping and Architecture Design
Defined SIEM requirements, mapped data sources, and designed Sentinel architecture aligned with regulatory needs.
02
Data Onboarding and Integration
Connected 15+ log sources including Azure, Microsoft 365, firewall systems, and on-premises infrastructure via Azure Arc.
03
Detection and Automation Engineering
Built and tuned 30+ KQL analytics rules and deployed automated playbooks using Azure Logic Apps.
04
Operationalization and Handover
Conducted parallel run, SOC training, KQL enablement, and full documentation handover for sustained operations.
Microsoft Technologies Used
Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender XDR
Microsoft Entra ID
Azure Monitor
Log Analytics Workspace
Azure Logic Apps
Azure Arc
Azure Key Vault
Azure Security Analytics (KQL-based detection)
How Microsoft Technologies Enabled the Outcome
01
Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Sentinel unified all security telemetry into a single cloud-native SIEM, eliminating fragmented log systems and enabling real-time threat detection.
02
KQL-based analytics
KQL-based analytics enabled precise detection of financial-sector attack patterns, significantly improving detection accuracy and speed.
03
Azure Logic Apps
Azure Logic Apps automated incident response workflows, reducing SOC workload and improving operational efficiency.
04
Azure Arc
Azure Arc extended monitoring to on-premises systems without migration, ensuring complete hybrid visibility.
05
Microsoft Defender XDR
Microsoft Defender XDR enriched security insights by correlating endpoint, identity, and cloud signals into unified incident views.
05
Transformed FMDQ’s
Together, these capabilities transformed FMDQ’s security operations from reactive investigation to proactive, automated threat detection and response.
Partner Value and Expertise
Reliance Infosystems delivered deep expertise in Microsoft Sentinel architecture, SOC automation, and financial-sector cybersecurity compliance.
Key strengths included:
1
Microsoft Sentinel SIEM architecture and deployment
2
Security operations engineering using KQL
3
SOC automation and Logic Apps orchestration
4
Hybrid security integration using Azure Arc
5
Financial-sector cybersecurity compliance alignment
Winner Summary
FMDQ Group partnered with Reliance Infosystems to implement a centralized Microsoft Sentinel SIEM platform that unified security monitoring across its hybrid financial infrastructure. The solution integrated over 15 data sources, automated incident response, and deployed advanced threat detection rules tailored to financial-sector risks. The transformation reduced threat detection time from days to minutes, improved regulatory compliance, and established a modern, cloud-native security operations foundation.
