Sophos Defends Northern Ireland’s Government Health Networks
The Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has deployed Sophos’s complete suite of computer security solutions to defend the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) networks against viruses, spam, Trojans, worms and spyware. The Sophos licence, which now covers the Department’s Directorate of Information Systems (DIS) and 27 HPSS sites, lasts for three years and was provided by Foursys, Sophos’s UK Partner of the Year for 2005.
As use of email and web services increases, DIS believes it is vital that health service organisations ensure the integrity of their systems. Without the assurance that sensitive information is secure, patients may feel uncomfortable about revealing personal details of their cases, which in turn could impact on the quality of care provided. DIS has chosen Sophos to provide a reliable multi-layered security solution, improving patient confidence and increasing uptake in the services.
To further bolster security, DIS has now extended its licence to include email gateway protection for each of the HPSS sites. Selected sites are also deploying Sophos’s secure messaging solution PureMessage at the email gateway. PureMessage can replace existing versions of MailMarshal and MAILsweeper, and will give users the highest level of virus, spam and spyware defence.
“We were impressed with the level of network protection offered by Sophos, as well as the company’s commitment to customer service and support,” said Kieran McConville, HPSS Network Manager at DIS. “Ensuring the security of electronic service delivery is paramount – Sophos’s email gateway and spam protection provide an important part of the measures required to secure the integrity of sensitive information.”
Following the installation, Sophos business partner Foursys has provided ongoing workshop training and support for IT administrators at DIS, who can also take advantage of Sophos’s own customer support service.
“By opting for Sophos’s full range of products and extending its licence to cover email gateways, DIS has deployed a cost-effective solution that will give it comprehensive protection from all manner of internet and email related threats,” added Paul Prior, managing director at Foursys.
About DIS
DIS is part of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland. The role of DIS is to ensure that health and social care in Northern Ireland makes the most effective use of modern ICT services. In doing this DIS is fulfilling the Department’s responsibilities in relation to ICT within the range of organisations that make up the Health and Personal Social Services (Trusts, Boards and Agencies) and other health and social care priorities.
About Foursys
Foursys is one of the UK’s leading independent value added resellers with two million licensed users at over 800 customers throughout the UK. The company specialises in network threat protection with best of breed anti-virus, anti-spam, spyware, email and web content security solutions. Foursys supports organisations in the development of strategies and selection of products to combat evolving IT security threats. A commitment to customer service before and after sale is at the heart of the business.
About Sophos
Sophos is a world leading computer security specialist, developing software against viruses, spyware, spam and policy abuse. Headquartered in the UK, the company produces solutions tailored for businesses of all sizes – from small enterprises to global corporations. Sophos is acclaimed for delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction and protection in the industry. The company’s products are sold and supported in more than 150 countries and protect more than 35 million users.