Enhancing Security and Internet Access for Nonprofit: A Case Study of Volunteer Center of Sonoma County

• Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges

• National Security & Defense
• Telecommunications

• Personnel Tracking & Monitoring
• Tamper Detection

The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, a nonprofit resource and referral center, heavily relies on the internet and a network of 40 PCs to run its daily operations and fulfill its mission. The center is responsible for a wide range of activities, from fundraising to providing services to over 17,000 people annually. The center's operations also involve the use of PCs by seniors, children, and teenagers. The center wanted to control web surfing and protect its users from inappropriate content. However, while safeguarding information and protecting users was imperative, the center lacked the knowledge and resources to manage security. The center was in need of an affordable, hands-off security management solution that did not require a security or IT expert on staff.

The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, located in Santa Rosa, California, is a nonprofit resource and referral center that helps the helpers in many ways. It sponsors the largest Human Race fundraising event in the United States, with 11,000 runners and walkers raising more than $1 million for 500 nonprofit organizations in a single day. The center's day-to-day activities are equally heroic. Through its Human Services Information and Referral program and telephone helpline, more than 17,000 people each year receive the services they need. The center also places and monitors more than 2,800 offenders annually who are sentenced to community service, with a completion success rate of better than 80 percent. More than 600 nonprofit organizations receive assistance with fundraising, grant writing, and volunteer workforce recruitment from the Volunteer Center. The group also operates the county’s paratransit program, called Volunteer Wheels, providing more than 50,000 rides to disabled passengers each year.

Portola Systems, a local IT consulting firm, met the Volunteer Center’s needs with a Check Point Safe@Office Internet security appliance, deployed as a part of managed security service. This service included firewall protection, remote access, 24x7 monitoring, automatic updates, content filtering, and reporting, all for one monthly fee. The combination of Safe@Office and Security Management Portal (SMP) allowed Portola to create and easily deploy Portola-Secure, a robust managed security service for small businesses. Users of the managed service, like the Volunteer Center, received comprehensive Internet security that was monitored and maintained by professionals around the clock and required no upkeep by their staff. The center was also able to operate the Volunteer Wheels network on its Internet connection by plugging it into the DMZ port on the Safe@Office appliance, improving cost-effectiveness and communication.

• The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County experienced significant operational improvements as a result of the Check Point Safe@Office Internet security appliance. The center now enjoys a much higher level of security—effortlessly. Portola Systems manages the firewall transparently from its own offices, providing the center with monthly reports detailing their security protection. With URL content filtering, the center no longer has to worry about volunteers encountering questionable websites. The service blocks inappropriate content from many categories including gambling, violence, and drugs and alcohol. The center also improved its cost-effectiveness and communication by operating the Volunteer Wheels network on its Internet connection. Looking forward, the center plans to open a satellite office, and the Safe@Office solution, with integrated VPN capabilities, will enable the two locations to communicate securely and inexpensively over the Internet.

• In one month, the service blocked more than 10,000 Internet attacks
• Stopped 60 attempts to view inappropriate Web content in a month
• Enabled safe Internet access for volunteers and youth