GLBA News

Cowlitz Bancorporation Deploys Proofpoint Messaging Security Gateway Appliance

(Aug 20, 2007) -- Proofpoint,  provider of integrated email security and data loss prevention solutions, announced that Cowlitz Bancorporation has deployed the Proofpoint Messaging Security Gateway appliance to protect both inbound and outbound messaging streams. Using the Proofpoint appliance, Cowlitz has eliminated nearly 100% of spam messages, is protected from the latest virus threats and is confident that outgoing email complies with industry regulations, including Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) and Sarbanes-Oxley.

Cowlitz Bancorporation wanted a single appliance to address all of its messaging security needs -- to defend against inbound spam and viruses, prevent leaks of confidential and private data and encrypt sensitive
information. As both a public company and a financial services company, Cowlitz Bancorporation also needed to ensure that all outbound messages were compliant with the latest data protection and industry regulations and that its customers' private financial information was fully protected.

The company uses the Proofpoint Regulatory Compliance and Proofpoint Secure Messaging modules to scan all outbound email and attachments for nonpublic information, such as credit card and social security numbers. Messages that contain sensitive data are then encrypted automatically before being transmitted. Proofpoint's easy-to-deploy platform, built-in data protection policies and easy-to-use administrative features allowed Cowlitz Bancorporation to get up and running immediately, with minimal adjustments from IT.

"Proofpoint's high level of anti-spam effectiveness, early and accurate detection of virus outbreaks and ability to add another layer of protection to our company and customers' confidential information, gives us the peace
of mind that both our inbound and outbound messaging streams are fully protected," said Chris Radford, systems administrator with Cowlitz Bancorporation. "Proofpoint also gives us the flexibility to easily expand
and adapt our messaging policies as our needs change and industry regulations evolve, which was a major selling point."

In order to protect employees from unwanted spam messages and virus attacks, Cowlitz Bancorporation also uses the Proofpoint Spam Detection, Proofpoint Virus Protection and Proofpoint Zero-Hour Anti-Virus modules. Spam messages are stopped at the gateway and employees are confident that all legitimate business email is reaching their inboxes, due to the appliance's negligible rate of false positives.

Proofpoint Zero-Hour Anti- Virus constantly analyzes millions of internet messages for anomalies that indicate a potential virus attack, ensuring that Cowlitz Bancorporation is protected against new viruses and other
forms of malicious code during the critical first hours of an attack.

"Proofpoint makes it easy for financial services organizations to ensure that sensitive corporate or customer data is not improperly disclosed via electronic communications, such as email, Webmail, Web postings and FTP," said Sandra Vaughan, senior vice president of products and marketing for Proofpoint. "By blocking, quarantining or encrypting such content, Proofpoint helps companies follow best practices for data protection and aids in compliance with many different types of email-related data protection regulations."

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