Avanan > Case Studies > The Modern Way of Doing Email Security Works Better for this Credit Union

The Modern Way of Doing Email Security Works Better for this Credit Union

Region

America

Country

United States

Product

Microsoft 365
Proofpoint
Avanan
Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration

Tech Stack

Cloud Computing
API
Email Security

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Customer Satisfaction

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Cloud Security
Cybersecurity & Privacy - Database Security
Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security

Applicable Industries

Finance & Insurance

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Cybersecurity
Fraud Detection

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
Cybersecurity Services

About The Customer

Wildwood Credit Union is a credit union in the Pacific Northwest. Alicia Scott runs the IT Department for Wildwood Credit Union. For years, the company used Proofpoint to protect its environment. But after a while, Proofpoint began to disappoint. For one, far too many phishing messages came through to the inbox. That was made worse since the pandemic, since, according to a report, 74% of banks and insurers have experienced a spike in cybercrime since the pandemic. In particular, there has been a 35% increase in phishing, a 35% increase in ransomware, and a 29% increase in internal threats. Wildwood needed a solution that could combat this rise.

The Challenge

Wildwood Credit Union had been using Proofpoint for several years and was becoming frustrated. Far too many malicious emails were getting into the inbox. Plus, they felt that the gateway setup was way out-of-date, necessitating a new approach to securing their email. Finally, since protecting personal identifying information is so critical, they needed a far more robust DLP solution. For years, the company used Proofpoint to protect its environment. But after a while, Proofpoint began to disappoint. For one, far too many phishing messages came through to the inbox. That was made worse since the pandemic, since, according to a report, 74% of banks and insurers have experienced a spike in cybercrime since the pandemic. In particular, there has been a 35% increase in phishing, a 35% increase in ransomware, and a 29% increase in internal threats. Wildwood needed a solution that could combat this rise.

The Solution

Scott’s first criteria was to get away from the gateway model that Proofpoint employs. When doing her initial research, she noticed that there were two types of API solutions. The first relied on detect and prevent. Other vendors offer Response: removing the email after it has already been delivered, typically after 30 seconds or more. For new, zero-day threats or malware that requires additional analysis, the delay can be measured in minutes or require manual intervention which could take much, much longer. Avanan, she noticed, worked differently. Avanan offers Protection: preventing the malicious emails from reaching the end users. For Scott, this was a considerable development. Being able to completely block phishing messages from reaching the inbox would keep her users far safer. Secondly, Scott knew they needed to protect against data leakage. As a credit union, there are tons of personal data in their system, some of a person's most sensitive data. Protecting it was part of their mission. When they tried out Avanan’s SmartDLP solution, they were impressed. With the Avanan solution, whenever sensitive info, like financial or personal, is detected, the content can be instantly quarantined. There can be a forced admin review or the admin can encrypt email to the rightful recipient.

Operational Impact

Wildwood Credit Union was able to completely block phishing messages from reaching the inbox, keeping their users far safer.
With Avanan’s SmartDLP solution, whenever sensitive info, like financial or personal, is detected, the content can be instantly quarantined.
There can be a forced admin review or the admin can encrypt email to the rightful recipient.