Holley Performance Strengthens Security and Access Control with AWS Workspaces

Holley Performance, a leader in automotive performance products, is transitioning to AWS Workspaces as part of a strategy to enhance visibility, security, and control over contractor and vendor access to its network systems.

By leveraging AWS Workspaces, Holley gains centralized management, mitigates data loss risks, and ensures compliance while improving user experience for external collaborators.

“AWS Workspaces has transformed how we manage contractor and vendor access to our network. With enhanced visibility and security, we can confidently safeguard our systems and data while enabling external collaborators to work efficiently."

- Mike McDonough, Principal Cloud Architect, Holley Performance

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The Challenge

Holley Performance identified an opportunity to improve their operations by seeking to managing secure, controlled access for contractors and vendors, including limited visibility into third-party activities, heightened risks of data breaches, inconsistent security policy enforcement, and operational inefficiencies from disparate access solutions. To address these issues, the company sought to centralize access control, enhance security to minimize unauthorized access and data loss, and streamline IT management while ensuring a seamless user experience.

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The Solution

Holley Performance partnered with Cloud Life Consulting to implement Amazon Workspaces to securely manage external access through virtual desktops tailored for contractors and vendors. The solution ensured access was restricted to authorized systems and data, incorporated encryption and centralized management to prevent data leakage, and provided comprehensive visibility into user activity for proactive monitoring and incident response.

Approach

• A phased approach was implemented, starting with high-priority contractor groups and expanding access to additional vendors.
• Integration with Holley’s identity management system allowed easy authentication and role-based access control.
• AWS services such as Amazon CloudWatch were deployed for detailed monitoring and reporting on user activity.

As Holley progresses with the deployment of AWS Workspaces, the company has already realized key benefits:

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The Results

Improved Security

• Centralized control over contractor and vendor access reduced the risk of unauthorized access and data loss.
• Real-time monitoring and logging of user activities provided enhanced visibility into potential security threats.

Streamlined IT Management

• Simplified provisioning and de-provisioning of virtual desktops, enabling rapid onboarding and off-boarding of contractors and vendors.
• Automated updates and patching ensured all workspaces adhered to security best practices without manual intervention.
• Onboarding time for contractors decreased by 60%

Enhanced Compliance

• Audit preparation time was reduced by 50% due to streamlined reporting and built-in compliance features.

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Next Steps

Holley Performance plans to expand AWS Workspaces deployment to additional teams and integrate advanced monitoring tools. This will further strengthen access control and ensure the organization is prepared for future growth and security demands.

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About Holley Performance

Holley Performance Products is an automotive performance company based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was founded in 1896 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, by George Holley and Earl Holley. When the company was based in Michigan it was a major producer of carburetors for many Detroit-built automobiles.