Zscaler > Case Studies > Enhancing Web Security and Data Protection for Ulster-Greene ARC with Zscaler

Enhancing Web Security and Data Protection for Ulster-Greene ARC with Zscaler

Technology Category

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Databases
Networks & Connectivity - Gateways

Applicable Industries

Electronics
National Security & Defense

Applicable Functions

Procurement
Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Tamper Detection
Traffic Monitoring

Services

Testing & Certification

About The Customer

Ulster-Greene ARC is a non-profit agency that offers a comprehensive range of services to individuals with autism and other developmental and intellectual disabilities, from birth through adulthood. The organization operates across 35 locations and is committed to ensuring the safety and privacy of the individuals they serve. This includes the protection of private medical information and compliance with HIPAA regulations. The organization faced challenges with web security and data protection, particularly in terms of URL filtering, protection for mobile users, and data loss prevention.

The Challenge

Ulster-Greene ARC, a non-profit agency providing services to people with autism and other developmental and intellectual disabilities, faced significant challenges with their web security and data protection. They were backhauling web traffic from 35 locations to 3 central locations for URL filtering on traditional proxy servers. This process introduced latency and performance degradation. The URL filtering appliances they used could only define broad, static categories of filtering, but could not provide granular, dynamic control of web content. This led to the blocking of many websites, even legitimate ones, due to the fear of potential security threats. Furthermore, mobile users were left unprotected, creating difficulties in enforcing policies for these users. The organization also needed to ensure HIPAA compliance and prevent data loss, particularly of private medical information.

The Solution

Ulster-Greene ARC adopted Zscaler’s cloud-delivered service to address their challenges. Each of their 35 Internet gateways forwarded Internet-bound traffic to the Zscaler cloud, where policy-based, in-depth bi-directional threat inspection was performed. This improved their security posture and prevented Personal Health Information (PHI) from escaping via Web 2.0 channels. With Zscaler, Ulster-Greene no longer needed to purchase and maintain in-house appliances or backhaul traffic to centralized locations, significantly improving performance. Zscaler’s dynamic content classification technology allowed Ulster-Greene to scan pages on the fly at high speed, categorize them, and handle them based on company policy. This eliminated the need for blocking websites entirely due to fear of embedded security risks. Zscaler also provided a solution for protecting Web 2.0 channels, enabling Ulster-Greene to allow users to visit more websites while risking less data loss.

Operational Impact

The implementation of Zscaler’s cloud-delivered service resulted in several operational benefits for Ulster-Greene ARC. The organization was able to establish trusted security and data loss prevention, with Zscaler detecting malicious active content, botnets, and other advanced threats. The solution also secured and enforced policy for mobile users, who were previously unprotected. The organization was able to focus more on their strategic policy and day-to-day business operations, rather than spending time on web traffic. The solution also led to happier staff, as they could now visit more websites while risking less data loss. Overall, Zscaler enabled Ulster-Greene ARC to focus more on their core business.

Quantitative Benefit

Significant reduction in latency and performance degradation due to elimination of backhauling traffic
Substantial savings in total cost of ownership as there was no need to buy, deploy or manage on-premise appliances
Significant reduction in IT and management overhead