Virtru and Virginia: Building a Whole-of-State Security Posture

Virginia's success demonstrates that with the right partner and technology, government organizations can transform decentralized security challenges into opportunities to build stronger, more unified protection for the citizens they serve.

The Commonwealth of Virginia faced a daunting security challenge: protecting sensitive citizen data across a vast, decentralized network where 100,000 employees in 100 agencies each handled information differently. This fragmentation wasn't just an administrative headache—it created genuine vulnerabilities in how the state safeguarded everything from health records to public safety information. Virginia needed more than isolated security tools; they needed a cohesive strategy that worked at scale.

With Virtru, Virginia was able to:

Automatically enforce encryption across all 100 agencies using Virtru for Microsoft Outlook and the Virtru Data Protection Gateway, eliminating third-party access while meeting compliance requirements
Take immediate action on sensitive data sharing with Email Encryption, rather than just receiving notifications without recourse
Strengthen its "Whole-of-State" security posture while reducing costs through Virtru Private Keystore and centralized license management

The Challenge: Fragmentation in a Microsoft Environment

As a full Microsoft shop operating within O365 GovCloud, Virginia's IT infrastructure was robust but fragmented. Different agencies were independently handling various types of sensitive data—from personal identification information to health records, public safety data, and credit card information. This decentralization created inconsistencies in security protocols and made comprehensive oversight nearly impossible.

When sensitive data was being shared, the security team would receive notifications but lacked the tools to take immediate, meaningful action. They were aware of potential vulnerabilities, but lacked a streamlined way to address them.

The Vision: A Unified "Whole-of-State" Security Posture

Virginia's IT leadership envisioned a comprehensive approach to data security that would…

Unify security for State Agencies, Local Governments, Schools, & Virginia Citizens
Encrypt sensitive data to eliminate third-party access
Ensure consistent protection for PII, health information, public safety data, and financial records
Meet rigorous compliance requirements including CJIS, HIPAA, and PCI
Centralize security management while reducing costs
Strengthen the Commonwealth's overall cybersecurity posture

The Solution: Virtru's Comprehensive Encryption Platform

After evaluating multiple options, Virginia turned to Virtru—a decision that would evolve into a seven-year partnership and counting. Virtru offered the Commonwealth a suite of powerful encryption tools that integrated seamlessly with their Microsoft environment:

Email Encryption providing end-to-end protection and eliminating third-party access
Encryption Gateway enforcing consistent security policies across all devices
Virtru Private Keystore enhancing security through complete key management control

What made Virtru stand out was not just its technical capabilities, but how it could be implemented at scale across Virginia's diverse agencies without disrupting workflows.

The Implementation: Seamless Security at Scale

Virginia's implementation of Virtru delivered immediate results through policy-driven automation. The system could identify sensitive content in outgoing communications and automatically apply appropriate encryption based on statewide security policies.

This approach solved two critical challenges simultaneously:

It ensured consistent protection regardless of which agency was sending the information
It removed the burden from individual employees to make security decisions for every communication

The Results: Protection, Compliance, and Cost Savings

The impact of Virginia's Virtru implementation has been substantial across multiple dimensions:

Enhanced Security

All sensitive data leaving Commonwealth agencies is now protected with end-to-end encryption
Security teams can take immediate action when sensitive data is shared
Third-party access to sensitive information has been eliminated

Streamlined Compliance

Consistent adherence to CJIS, HIPAA, and PCI requirements across all agencies
Simplified auditing and reporting through centralized management
Reduced compliance risk through automated enforcement of security policies

Operational and Financial Benefits

Centralized licensing has lowered per-user costs for individual agencies
Automated encryption has reduced the burden on IT staff
Standardized security practices have simplified training and support

"Whole-of-State" Security Vision

Perhaps most significantly, Virginia's Information Technology Agency (VITA) has made substantial progress toward its vision of a unified security approach that extends beyond state agencies to include local governments as well.

With Virtru, Virginia has been able to transform its security strategy from a collection of agency-level decisions to a true Commonwealth-wide posture. Rather than just protecting individual data points, they're securing Virginia's digital infrastructure as a whole.

Looking Ahead: Building on Seven Years of Success

Virginia's partnership with Virtru positions the Commonwealth to adapt accordingly. The flexible nature of the platform allows VITA to expand and adjust data protection strategies as needs change or new challenges emerge.

By implementing Virtru's comprehensive encryption solutions, the Commonwealth of Virginia has not only addressed immediate security concerns but has established a foundation for long-term digital resilience—creating a model for how large government entities can achieve both strong security and operational efficiency.