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CheckPoint Software > Case Studies > Dakota Internet Partners Enhances Security Services with Check Point Managed Security

Dakota Internet Partners Enhances Security Services with Check Point Managed Security

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

National Security & Defense
Telecommunications

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Tamper Detection

Services

System Integration

The Challenge

Dakota Internet Partners, a leading Internet Service Provider (ISP) in southern Arizona, was seeking to provide its customers with value-added services that would give them a competitive edge. The company identified network security services as a logical extension of its existing business model. However, providing customers with a security solution was only the first piece of the puzzle. Dakota Internet Partners also required a solution that included a platform for managing numerous, geographically dispersed security appliances from a central location. The company needed to minimize up-front investment in IT infrastructure, provide centralized security management and service provisioning, and deploy seamless integration with existing back office and provisioning solutions.

About The Customer

Dakota Internet Partners, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, is the largest privately owned Internet Service Provider (ISP) in southern Arizona. The company provides Internet and data connectivity solutions for over 5,000 customers ranging from small businesses to enterprise customers. These include financial institutions, healthcare providers, law offices, retail chains and high-tech companies. Dakota Internet Partners also proudly provides service to over 100 nonprofit organizations in the Tucson area. The company prides itself on offering “the human touch in technology,” and is highly regarded for its 24x7 technical support and high level of customer service.

The Solution

Dakota Internet Partners first learned about Check Point’s solution at an ISP-focused conference. The company decided to install as a pilot the Safe@Office security appliances and Security Management Portal (SMP) management platform. The pilot was successful, leading Dakota Internet Partners to exclusively sell security services powered by Check Point. The company chose to deploy the Check Point solution as an On-Demand application. The SMP platform is hosted on Check Point servers and deployed to partners as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution. This approach offered a quick and simple way to enable tiered security services, while minimizing the required up-front investment in infrastructure. Using the robust Check Point API, Dakota Internet Partners was able to integrate SMP On-Demand with its billing and CRM system, thus supporting its existing business processes.

Operational Impact

The Check Point solution has allowed Dakota Internet Partners to provide its customers with top-of-the-line security features. These dynamic platforms are regularly updated with new capabilities. Customers appreciate the support for remote desktop access and Web filtering services, as well as the weekly security reports branded with Dakota Internet Partners' name and corporate look. These reports reassure customers that threats are being actively prevented from reaching their systems. Dakota Internet Partners has also been impressed with the quality of support received from Check Point, feeling valued and well-supported.

Quantitative Benefit

Dakota Internet Partners currently manages the security operations of approximately 100 businesses in the Tucson area using the SMP On-Demand service.
The company provides customers with the entire Safe@Office product line, including appliances with integrated ADSL/ADSL2+ modem and wireless access points.
Based on current adoption rates, Dakota Internet Partners expects the number of customers using their security services to grow to 1,000 in the foreseeable future.