Country's Largest Interstate Credit Union Merger Protects Data with Websense

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: WBSN) -- During the $4.75 billion merger of First Tech Credit Union and Addison Avenue Federal Credit Unions, the companies recognized the urgency to safeguard data for their combined 335,000 members in 38 branches. The combined credit union was looking for a solution that was highly effective, yet easy to administer. After careful consideration and an analysis of the performance of the solution already in use, Addison Avenue chose Websense to protect more than 50,000 merger-related communications.

For more than four years, Addison Avenue used the Websense® Data Security Suite (DSS)—part of the Websense TRITON™ content security solution—to protect sensitive customer information. Based on their positive experiences, they consolidated their data loss prevention and compliance solutions with Websense during the merger.

"Since 2007, Websense had protected Addison Avenue's data from inbound and outbound security vulnerabilities," said Phil Romero, senior security architect, First Tech Federal Credit Union.

"We chose to implement Websense DSS during the merger and beyond, because the technology is well aligned with the growth of our organization. In fact, prior to the merger, First Tech used a different DLP product. We were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of Websense DLP and its superior functionality, visibility, and ease of administration. As a result, we expanded our subscriptions for Websense Data Security Suite to cover our combined organization, and we expanded our Websense Web Security Gateway deployment with the purchase of six Websense V-Series™ appliances to enhance our security against modern malware."

Romero's decision to use Websense TRITON, which integrates Websense Web Security Gateway and Websense Data Security Suite, was a wise move. In the past year, 52 percent of data-stealing attacks occurred over the web(1). And, with webmail, social networking and cloud-based services, there are even more opportunities to expose classified data—either on purpose or by mistake.

The risk of data loss increases during a merger, mostly because massive amounts of sensitive data are moved about. During Addison Avenue and First Tech's integration, Websense helped Romero identify and secure data. Websense provided added visibility to track how data is stored and moving—all with the control needed to enforce policies for protection over internal and external channels.

"With Websense, we secured all of the communications between First Tech and Addison Avenue, as well as our third-party professional service providers," said Romero. "We used Websense Data Security Suite to protect both email and web activity. The DLP solution helped us ensure that emails were routed only through encrypted communication channels. In fact, we were able to secure more than 50,000 merger-related emails between April and November 2010. And, the Websense PreciseID^™ natural language processing combined with the built-in policy wizards made it simple to implement the controls needed to protect our data in motion—a must during the integration of our two organizations."

"Protecting confidential data during a merger and acquisition is critical to its success," said Patrick Murray, senior director of product management, Websense. "In such transitional times, company files are almost always sent through an organization's biggest communication channels: web and email. And that's when data is at great risk. During the merger, Websense provided visibility and control of sensitive information coming and going out of the credit unions—a great example of the TRITON™ unified content security solution in action."

Websense also helps First Tech Federal Credit Union comply with regulations such as NCUA's PART 748 standard. Websense Data Security Suite meets the needs for this regulation, including constant monitoring of member information and how it is transported across the network.

The Websense Web Security Gateway and Data Security Suite modules are part of the Websense TRITON unified content security solution. Content security—combining email, web, and DLP security—is a response to modern threats, which have easily bypassed traditional perimeter and endpoint security such as AV and firewalls. Websense TRITON content security provides a unified platform of complementary solutions that deliver what is arguably the best security while saving operating and capital expenses.

More information about Websense Data Security Suite is available at www.websense.com. Please click here to view a video of First Tech Federal Credit Union's content security deployment.

About Websense, Inc.

Websense, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBSN), a global leader in unified web security, email security, and data loss prevention (DLP) solutions, delivers the best content security for modern threats at the lowest total cost of ownership to tens of thousands of enterprise, mid-market and small organizations around the world. Distributed through a global network of channel partners and delivered as software, appliance and Security-as-a-Service (SaaS), Websense content security solutions help organizations leverage web 2.0 and cloud communication, collaboration, and social media while protecting from advanced persistent threats, preventing the loss of confidential information and enforcing internet use and security policies. Websense is headquartered in San Diego, California with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.websense.com.

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About First Tech Federal Credit Union

First Tech Federal Credit Union is a $4.9 billion, nationwide financial institution serving over 330,000 members from the nation's most progressive, forward-thinking companies. First Tech offers a full-range of banking, mortgage, investment, insurance and financial education services to employees and family members of its sponsor companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, Agilent Technologies and Amazon. For over five decades, First Tech has been a recognized industry leader setting high standards for innovation in financial services delivery and member service. For more information, please visit firsttechfed.com.

(1)Websense 2010 Threat Report

Contact:
Hally Wax
Websense, Inc.
[email protected]

SOURCE Websense, Inc.