Debt collection is one of the top five fastest growing industries. Receivables Management Solutions (RMS) offers collection services nationwide to creditors seeking quick and effective results. To protect its clients, RMS works with knowledgeable managers and top executives to find ways to resolve issues and improve liquidation and company bottom-line health.

In 2002, RMS had an IBM InterJet Internet security appliance that was increasingly ineffective due to performance and scalability limitations. With more and more employees needing access to the Internet and widespread Viruses running rampant, RMS decided it needed to beef up its security. After evaluating products from a variety of network security vendors, RMS decided on a solution from eSoft.

RMS deployed an eSoft InstaGate firewall/VPN appliance which provides the company with deep packet inspection (DPI) Firewall, IPSec VPN, multi-protocol Anti-Virus, Intrusion Prevention, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Phishing, Email Content Filtering, Anti-Spam and Web URL/Content Filtering. The InstaGate also provides RMS with eSoft’s SoftPak Director technol

Spyware Protection at the Gateway and Desktop

eSoft’s Complete Anti-Spyware solution, which has been deployed on RMS’s InstaGate and employee desktops, offers full spyware protection. “The eSoft Anti-Spyware product gives us an extra layer of protection,” said Myke Creager, Systems Administrator with RMS. “Coverage at both the gateway and desktop is terrific. With any other product you have to put Anti-Spyware on the server and load a client onto each computer. The eSoft gateway solution is activated and self-updates, and once you put it in, you can forget about it.”

RMS has its eSoft system configured so that when spyware is detected, an administrator is alerted, and the spyware is blocked and quarantined. This gives the company automatic protection while offering administrators specific control over how incidents are handled.

 

Costs Reduced, Financial Data Safe

The eSoft solution reduces risks for RMS, while keeping operating costs down and protecting sensitive and highly-confidential financial data. The InstaGate combines modular applications into a single proven solution that can be installed and managed quickly and easily. Employee productivity is enhanced with the web and email security and monitoring capabilities, and liability is reduced because unsolicited and inappropriate email and web content is blocked.

“We face the same security risks that banks face,” said Creager. “We have privileged customer information we must protect against identity theft. The InstaGate gives us peace of mind that all that information is secure. In addition, we can limit usage by employees, which is beneficial in helping ensure everybody stays on task. We’re known for our results and eSoft helps us maintain that reputation.”

Intrusion Prevention, Anti-Spyware

For RMS, the IPS capabilities of the InstaGate are of the utmost importance. RMS had a security audit conducted recently, a step towards ISO certification. With the help of eSoft, and specifically the IPS and Anti-Spyware components, the company was able to meet its goals.

“InstaGate’s IPS capability is one of the best things about the product,” said Creager. “It watches the tunnel for any mischief or trouble and protects us from hackers. It also alerts us to strange activity like Spyware or Viruses, and we can take action before anything becomes a problem. We get attacked about once a month and we’ve never had anybody get through the InstaGate.”

Ease of Use, Peace of Mind

eSoft’s products have all been designed for ease of use and time-saving features and functionality, lessening the demands on companies like RMS for significant IT resources and experience. “The InstaGate GUI is easy to read and straightforward,” said Creager. “You just plug it in, do a little configuration tweaking and you’re up and running. I can even make updates or changes from home if I need to. I don’t need to think about it beyond that. As long as the eSoft InstaGate is up and running, I know my company’s up and running.”

Prepared for the Future

With the simplicity and robustness of the eSoft InstaGate, along with the ability to trial and purchase new modular SoftPaks for additional services, RMS is ready for any threats it might face. “eSoft provided the biggest bang for the buck,” said Creager. “The eSoft solution has been phenomenal for us and we appreciate the peace of mind it brings us. see a long future between RMS and eSoft.”