Case Study

An Automation Firm's Unsigned Pipeline. Secured, Automated, and 80% Faster

How Encryption Consulting integrated CodeSign Secure into an industrial automation company’s Azure DevOps pipeline to automate code signing, secure private keys in HSMs, and cut AppLocker application launch time from 2:30 to 30 seconds.

Customer Profile

An industrial automation company that builds software for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and complex process automation. Established regional presence focused on software authenticity, validation, and data integrity.

Industry

Industrial Automation, PLC Software & Solutions

Engagement Type

CodeSign Secure Deployment, Azure DevOps CI/CD Integration

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At a Glance Outcome

2:30 → 30s

AppLocker application launch time reduced by 80%

Azure DevOps

Code signing fully automated within the CI/CD pipeline

FIPS Level 3

140-2 Level 3 HSM compliance for all private key storage

CA/B Forum

June 2023 met with RFC 3161 and Authenticode timestamps

The Enterprise

Challenges

The organization's Azure DevOps pipeline had no code signing integration. Software deployment depended on manual verification, the infrastructure was exposed to tampering, and compliance gaps jeopardized data security.

No code signing in the CI/CD pipeline

Code signing was missing from the Azure DevOps pipeline, so every deployment required manual checks that slowed releases. There was no automated way to verify code authenticity or integrity before production.

01 Code Signing

Security vulnerabilities from unsigned code

Without code signing, the organization was exposed to code tampering and malicious code injection. These vulnerabilities compromised user applications and put the broader software infrastructure at risk.

02 Security

AppLocker causing 2:30 application launch delays

AppLocker pushed application launch times to 2 minutes and 30 seconds, which frustrated users during critical tasks. The delay came from multiple certificates and hashes in AppLocker rules and hurt both workflow speed and productivity.

03 Performance

Without code signing in the pipeline, every deployment was an unverified trust assumption. Software authenticity, regulatory compliance, and application performance were all affected.

Encryption Consulting

Engagement Summary · Encryption Consulting · CodeSign Secure

Our Offered

Solutions

CodeSign Secure was integrated into the organization's Azure DevOps pipeline. It automated code signing across multiple file formats, secured private keys in HSMs, established signed audit trails, and optimized AppLocker performance.

Capability 01

Azure DevOps Pipeline Integration & Multi-Format Signing

CodeSign Secure was integrated with Azure DevOps to automate code signing for PDF, XML, MS Authenticode, and Java formats. Every code push receives a digital signature that verifies authenticity and integrity before deployment. No manual step required.

Capability 02

HSM Key Protection & Granular Access Controls

An HSM was deployed for secure private key storage to prevent unauthorized access, leakage, or breach. Granular access controls based on P12 certificates, user permissions, and application-specific rules determine which certificates can be used in each environment.

Capability 03

AppLocker Optimization

Application launch time dropped from 2:30 to 30 seconds. A single CodeSign Secure signing rule replaced the multiple certificates and hashes in AppLocker rules, which removed the bottleneck without losing application control.

Capability 04

Audit Trails, Timestamps & Compliance

Signed audit trails recorded every signing operation with tamper-free documentation. Each signature received secure timestamps per RFC 3161 and Authenticode standards. The process met FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM and CA/Browser Forum June 2023 requirements end to end.

The result was a fully automated, HSM-secured code signing process integrated directly into the Azure DevOps pipeline, with every signature auditable, every key protected, and application launch times cut by 80%.

Encryption Consulting

Engagement Summary · Encryption Consulting · CodeSign Secure

The Overall

Business Outcome

CodeSign Secure turned the organization's code signing from a manual, insecure process into a fast, automated, and compliant operation that strengthened security and market credibility.

Automated signing, faster deployment

Automated code signing via Azure DevOps eliminated manual verification and overhead. Delivery is now faster, more reliable, and fully hands-off.

Hardened security, full compliance

HSM-protected private keys eliminated unauthorized access risk and secured infrastructure against code tampering and malicious injection, meeting HIPAA, GDPR, FIPS 140-2 Level 3, and CA/Browser Forum standards.

Stronger user trust and market standing

Secure code signing gives end users confidence that software is authentic from creation to deployment. The 80% cut in AppLocker launch time further improved efficiency and the organization’s security reputation.

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