HAL Secures 1,000 Vendors with SSO & MFA

Challenge

When Rochak Sharma, HAL's IT chief, approached us with what seemed impossible, we saw beyond the technical challenge to the impact. "Our vendors were stuck in and unable to access our systems securely while critical projects waited," he explained.

HAL faced what seemed like contradictory requirements: connect 1,000 external vendors to their ERP system while maintaining defense-grade security. These obstacles were challenging:

• No Cloud Allowed: Strict data sovereignty rules barred cloud-based solutions. On-premise authentication was mandatory.
• No Identity Infrastructure: With no centralized identity system (Active Directory and LDAP), a new architecture was needed from scratch.
• High Authentication Load: The system had to handle 300,000 SMS-based MFA verifications annually without delays.
• Custom Access Levels: Diverse vendors required tailored access to segregated systems, ensuring security.
• ERP Integration Challenges: HAL’s IFS ERP lacked APIs, needing custom connectors to enable secure, seamless authentication.

Complex workarounds failed. miniOrange rose to the challenge, building a custom on-premise solution that met HAL’s unique needs.

Results

While other vendors said "impossible" or "you'll need to compromise," miniOrange took the challenge. Our engineering team worked directly with HAL security specialists to create a truly unique solution that proves: you don't need to sacrifice security for functionality.

The HAL implementation showcases miniOrange's ability to solve complex security use cases that guard national security—creating custom security solutions for organizations with the most demanding requirements—and drove results like:

• Stronger Security: HAL fully met defense security standards, staying safe from breaches.
• Smooth Vendor Access: 1,000 vendors could easily use a single portal, improving teamwork.
• Seamless Logins: HAL handled 300,000 OTPs a year with 99.9% success, making logins hassle-free.
• Protected Data: All authentication stayed in-house, keeping sensitive data safe and private.
• Faster Onboarding: Vendors were set up in days instead of weeks, saving time
• Ready for Growth: The system can easily handle five times more users without changes.

About HAL

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is India's premier aerospace and defense manufacturer to produce critical military aircraft and defense systems that protect national security. With operations requiring the highest clearance levels, HAL's security standards are uncompromising. They handle large confidential datasets with their external vendors with varying degrees of access levels.