Southstar Bank, a prominent mid-sized financial services institution, faced the growing pains of managing sensitive data across a collaborative environment. Their reliance on an outdated on-premises file server with VPN access led to significant bottlenecks in teamwork and exposed vulnerabilities in their data security framework. Bryan Buck, Chief Technology Officer at SouthStar Bank, recognized the urgent need for an upgrade to a system that could not only handle their dynamic operational tempo but also ensure the highest levels of security and seamless workflows.
“Our legacy shared drive, while functional in the past, began to reveal its limitations as we expanded and our operational complexity increased,” Buck explained. To address these challenges head-on, SouthStar Bank embarked on a comprehensive vendor evaluation process, ultimately selecting Egnyte for its robust content security features, enhanced user experience, and superior overall performance. This strategic move has empowered SouthStar Bank to overcome previous obstacles and establish a more secure and efficient digital workspace.
Overcoming Challenges of On-Premises Technology: Security Risks and Workflow Inefficiencies at SouthStar Bank
SouthStar Bank operates within the highly regulated financial sector, handling a substantial volume of sensitive data daily. This includes confidential customer financial information and proprietary bank data, making data security and efficient collaboration paramount. “Maintaining stringent control over our files is non-negotiable,” stated Buck. “We must have clear visibility into data storage locations, manage access permissions meticulously, and facilitate efficient internal and external collaboration.”
However, their legacy on-premises system struggled to meet these critical demands, presenting several key challenges for SouthStar Bank:
- Inefficient Collaboration: The system’s limitation of single-user file editing significantly hampered teamwork and slowed down crucial workflows. Furthermore, SouthStar Bank had to depend on disparate third-party tools for secure file exchange with clients and sensitive data scanning, adding complexity and costs to these essential processes.
- Limited Data Visibility and Access Control: Gaining a clear understanding of where sensitive data resided within the system and effectively managing access permissions proved to be a major hurdle. This lack of visibility created significant security and compliance risks for SouthStar Bank, potentially exposing them to data breaches and regulatory scrutiny.
- Capacity Constraints: Years of data accumulation on their on-premises system led to critical shortages in backup storage capacity. “The continuous growth of our shared drive eventually outpaced our backup capabilities, jeopardizing our data recovery strategies,” Buck noted, highlighting the escalating capacity concerns.
Recognizing these limitations, Bryan Buck prioritized user experience as a key factor in the search for a new solution. “We were looking for a modern, innovative solution that would seamlessly integrate into our users’ daily routines while delivering enhanced security, efficiency, and control,” Buck emphasized. Cloud hosting was also a crucial requirement to resolve the escalating local storage issues and simplify data backup management for SouthStar Bank.
Egnyte: Providing SouthStar Bank with Full Control and User-Friendly Functionality
SouthStar Bank initiated a thorough evaluation process to identify a solution that aligned with their stringent requirements. Egnyte quickly emerged as a frontrunner during this evaluation. “My initial exposure to Egnyte was through a webinar,” Buck recalled. “It became immediately apparent that Egnyte possessed the capabilities to effectively address our multifaceted challenges.”
The decision to implement Egnyte, along with its seamless integrations with Microsoft Office and Azure Active Directory, marked a pivotal step forward for SouthStar Bank. Buck highlighted three compelling features of Egnyte that particularly impressed his team:
- Unified Risk Visibility: Egnyte’s intuitive dashboard provided SouthStar Bank with a consolidated, real-time view of their overall risk posture, promptly identifying and flagging potential security threats. “Egnyte’s proactive alerts for unusual activities are invaluable,” Buck stated. “For instance, if there’s an abnormal surge in file deletions, I receive instant notifications. This allows me to swiftly investigate, gain complete insight into the event, and take immediate corrective action.” The platform’s simplified access permission management and support for simultaneous multi-user file editing further enhanced security and collaboration.
- Effortless User Adoption: The implementation of Egnyte was remarkably smooth, causing minimal disruption to SouthStar Bank’s daily operations. “The transformative aspect of Egnyte is its transparent integration – users experience no discernible change in their workflow,” Buck explained. Egnyte allowed users to access files through a familiar mapped drive interface, providing a centralized repository for easy file location, access, and sharing. Cloud-based access from any device further enhanced user convenience. Buck shared a personal anecdote: “During a week of remote work due to COVID, I was able to access all necessary files seamlessly from my personal laptop via the cloud, even without Egnyte pre-installed.”
- Native Microsoft Integrations: Egnyte’s robust integration with Microsoft Office applications significantly streamlined collaboration workflows at SouthStar Bank. “The co-editing capability within Microsoft Office, facilitated by Egnyte, has been transformative,” Buck emphasized. “Previously, users faced frustrating delays, sometimes up to an hour, waiting for file access. Now, real-time collaboration is a reality.”
Throughout the implementation process, SouthStar Bank benefited from Egnyte’s dedicated and responsive support team. “From the initial sales engagement to implementation and ongoing support, the Egnyte team has been consistently attentive and quick to respond,” Buck noted. “Their proactive approach and regular check-ins ensure we continuously maximize the value derived from the solution.”
Tangible Benefits: Enhanced Security, Cost Reduction, and Improved User Satisfaction at SouthStar Bank
Since deploying Egnyte, SouthStar Bank has achieved a holistic understanding of their data landscape and gained enhanced control over sensitive information. This has resulted in substantial improvements in both content security and user experience across the organization. “Sensitive data detection is a critical feature for us, and we’ve made remarkable progress in this area,” Buck stated. “Egnyte empowers me with comprehensive visibility into our content, ensures precise permission configurations for every file, and provides timely alerts for any suspicious activity that could compromise security. These capabilities are now readily accessible and user-friendly.”
This enhanced visibility and control have empowered SouthStar Bank to manage data risk with greater precision and continuously strengthen their security posture. Buck highlighted the quantifiable impact of Egnyte: “At the time of Egnyte implementation, we identified 20,000 sensitive files stored in unauthorized locations. Through the visibility and control afforded by Egnyte, we have successfully reduced this number to zero.”
The user response to Egnyte within SouthStar Bank has been overwhelmingly positive. “Our everyday users appreciate the seamless transition and minimal disruption to their established workflows,” Buck commented. “More tech-savvy users are particularly enthusiastic about the flexibility of accessing files from any location via the web-based or mobile platforms.” The ability to share files as secure links, rather than cumbersome email attachments, has also been well-received. “Replacing email file exchanges with direct link sharing has significantly boosted our operational efficiency,” Buck added.
Beyond security enhancements and user satisfaction, Egnyte’s cloud-based solution has addressed backup space limitations and generated tangible cost savings for SouthStar Bank. “By consolidating file sharing, content scanning, and numerous other functions into a unified Egnyte platform, we’ve achieved an annual cost reduction of $10,000 by eliminating redundant software subscriptions,” Buck concluded. “This consolidation epitomizes Egnyte’s value proposition for SouthStar Bank. Our previous system involved a complex web of disparate tools and steps to accomplish essential tasks. Egnyte provides a streamlined, all-in-one solution.”
