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"Our industry is very heavily attacked… it's an industry many people don't realize is a target."
Todd Jones
IT Manager
BVU Authority, a utility company serving Southwest Virginia, may be modest in size, but it takes data protection seriously. With over 16,000 electric customers and nearly 8,000 water and wastewater accounts to manage, BVU Authority recognizes the importance of safeguarding sensitive information.
BVU Authority has partnered with Virtru’s robust email encryption to meet this challenge. This technology is deployed across various departments, securing everything from employee benefits to customer data. It's a practical solution that helps BVU Authority protect personally identifiable information (PII) and maintain compliance with industry standards.
Todd Jones, IT Manager at BVU Authority, oversees the organization's network and computer systems. As a utility company, BVU Authority faces significant cybersecurity threats. Jones explains, "Our industry is very heavily attacked…it's an industry many people don't realize is a target."
The motivations behind these attacks are complex. Attackers may target small utility providers like BVU Authority as a potential gateway to larger regional networks. There's also the potential for widespread impact on critical infrastructure, affecting hospitals, schools, and local industry—as we saw with the major Colonial Pipeline cyber attack in 2021. Utilities are also attractive targets for identity theft due to the comprehensive personal information they hold on customers.
Well aware of the threat landscape, BVU Authority upgraded its security posture by adopting Virtru email encryption for Outlook after a recommendation from their insurance carrier, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia.
Before Virtru, BVU was required to fax sensitive employee information, such as social security numbers and dates of birth, to BCBS, but Virtru provided a quicker, more secure alternative.
The use of Virtru quickly spread beyond HR to other departments within BVU Authority. The accounting department uses it to protect pay information, exchange sensitive data internally, and transmit sensitive information collected for GASB 75 reports. The Customer Service Department at BVU Authority also relies on Virtru when handling contracts, lease agreements, and mortgage information for new customer onboarding.
BVU Authority chose Virtru because of its ease of use and seamless integration with its existing Microsoft email system, which has reported high user satisfaction rates. HR Representative Amanda Mast, who deals with these sensitive exchanges on a daily basis, concurred, saying, “It's very user-friendly."
Virtru plays a crucial role in BVU Authority's multi-layered security approach, which includes multi-factor authentication and employee education. When asked what advice he would give others evaluating email encryption options, Jones emphasizes, "Make sure it's something easy for your team to use. Because if it's not, they will not use it."
By implementing Virtru, BVU Authority has found a solution that not only meets its security needs but is also embraced by its employees across various departments. BVU Authority demonstrates that effective data security isn't about the size of your operation—it's about making smart choices to protect your customers and business operations.
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