Based across six Central London locations and providing courses to more than 20,000 students, the University of Westminster identified the need to encrypt the sensitive student and employee data shared by and between different departments. With numerous employees already members of the Egress’ trusted network, a community of paying and free subscribers communicating securely using a single global identity, the university recognised the advantages of formally integrating Egress Protect into their existing infrastructure.
The Challenge
Ashley Pereira, Information Security Officer at the University of Westminster, explains: “Initially, our requirement came from our Overseas Department, who organise student placements at the university, as well as study periods abroad for UK-based students, and consequently needed a mechanism for transferring large volumes of confidential data securely.”
The Solution
“We already had a number of free Egress users in our organisation who had been using the system to communicate securely with several London borough councils and we were therefore very aware of how effective it could be,” continues Pereira.
“By adopting a fully integrated, centrally managed approach, we have been able to take better advantage of Egress Protect’s sophisticated encryption and control functionality that ensures sensitive data is protected throughout the lifecycle of shared information. In particular, the ability to apply additional layers of security was of great importance for the university, providing further assurance over the third parties accessing this information.”
“By adopting a fully integrated, centrally managed approach, we have been able to take better advantage of Email and File Protection’s sophisticated encryption and control functionality that ensures sensitive data is protected throughout the lifecycle of shared information.”
Ashley Pereira, Information Security Officer, University of Westminster
The UK’s only CESG certified email encryption product, Egress Protect offers end-to-end data protection, with the ability to enforce package restrictions and revoke access to sent information extending users’ control over the information they share. End-user verification can also be enhanced using multi-layered authentication: securing sensitive information using information known only to the sender and recipient to apply additional layers of security.
“Since implementing Egress Protect we’ve already seen uptake across the university’s other departments,” continues Pereira. “The HR Department, for example, now uses the solution to protect confidential employee data shared internally. Our next step is to examine further ways to enhance the university approach to data protection using the extended Egress platform, for example Egress Secure Web Form.
Speaking about the announcement, Egress UK Sales Manager Kelly McCann comments: “The University of Westminster’s adoption of Egress Protect reflects a growing trend amongst education providers to securely communicate sensitive student and employee data.
“It is encouraging to see how the use of Egress Protect has increased awareness of the importance of secure communication amongst the university’s employees – and by working closely together, we have been able to implement a solution that not only offers comprehensive data protection but is also a system that they are familiar with.”