California Department of Technology Services (DTS) Adds Apani Networks’ EpiForce to Address HIPAA Security Requirements
BREA, CA — September 27, 2005 – Apani Networks, the leading enterprise network security software provider focused on securing inside the network perimeter, today announced that the California State Department of Technology Services (DTS) has selected Apani’s EpiForce software to secure the agency’s data-in-motion and address HIPAA security requirements for compliance and ensure confidentiality of patient medical records.
The California State Department of Technology Services (DTS) is responsible for providing IT and project management services for state departments, county and city governments, and local services throughout California. DTS will use EpiForce, a centralized security management software system, to ensure network communications are secure between multiple networking technologies and operating system platforms for its proprietary patient records management application.
“We initially evaluated an IPSec solution for our security and compliance requirements, but it lacked the scalability we needed, and simply couldn’t handle the multiple operating system platforms we use,” said Tim Funk, senior director of IT security, Department of Technology Services. “EpiForce was selected for its flexibility, scalability and ability to deploy secure communications within our heterogeneous network environment. We are rolling out EpiForce to other departments when sensitive internal data communications must be secured within the network perimeter.”
By automating security policy enforcement, network wide point-to-point encryption and machine-level access control, EpiForce becomes the epicenter of enforcement. Operating at the network layer, EpiForce is transparent to users and applications. It secures data flows and logically segments the network into security zones, allowing IT managers – for the first time – to apply defense-in-depth strategies to secure the network. By controlling access to critical devices and encrypting internal data flows, EpiForce protects against an insider attack and mitigate the impact of a perimeter security breach.
“EpiForce provides the ability to centrally manage and administer network-wide encryption of data flows throughout the agency’s heterogeneous environment using industry-proven IPSec encryption,” said David M. Lynch, vice president of marketing, Apani Networks. “EpiForce supports each of DTS’s governmental constituencies from Children’s Welfare Department to the University of California, and will scale to secure the records of tens of thousands of unique users.”
As part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), organizations must protect communications containing sensitive healthcare information when transmitted electronically across open networks. HIPAA compliance requires that this information be kept confidential and protected from intruders who may try to access systems through external communication points..
EpiForce’s support of multiple OS environments including Microsoft Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP and IBM, as well as mainframe applications, made it an ideal security solution for DTS, which must support multiple agencies with various legacy application platforms. EpiForce effectively creates a new security layer, transparent to the end user, that will function in tandem with existing security systems.
About DTS
Based in Sacramento, the California Department of Technology Services provides cost-effective computing, network solutions, electronic messaging, training and large-scale IT project management to state departments, counties and cities throughout California. For more information, please go to www.dts.ca.gov.
About Apani Networks
Established in 2003, Apani Networks is the leading enterprise network security software provider focused on securing inside the network perimeter. EpiForce, the company’s flagship product, provides a transparent security layer for networked applications by encrypting data in motion, enforcing machine-level access control and centrally managing security policy relationships. Apani enables corporate IT managers to quickly, automatically and cost effectively lock down their networks, while providing the security and audit trail necessary to demonstrate compliance to the wide range of regulations that affect enterprises today. For more information, visit www.apani.com.