Preserving the Past, Securing the Data: LA Natural History Museum’s Data Transformation with Virtru Data Protection Gateway

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) stands as a testament to transformation. Once the site of gambling and saloons in the late 1800s, Exposition Park was reimagined in 1909 as a center for culture and learning—a mission that continues today as the museum safeguards more than 35 million artifacts, the largest natural and cultural history collection in the western United States.

When Javier Claros joined as IT Manager in November 2024, he faced a modern challenge: how to protect the digital information supporting this vast historical treasure while enabling the collaboration needed across the museum's three locations and 400 employees.

The Results:

With Virtru, LA County Natural History Museum can:

• Securely share donor information through the Virtru Data Protection Gateway, automatically encrypting sensitive CRM data

• Enhance collaboration across locations with Virtru Gmail and Google Drive Encryption integrated into their existing workspace

• Protect confidential communications in HR and executive departments using Virtru's encryption controls for sensitive information

A Legacy Worth Protecting

While the museum excelled at preserving physical artifacts dating back millions of years, its approach to protecting digital information had not evolved at the same pace. The museum's growing dependence on Google Workspace for collaboration presented new security challenges.

Prior to implementing Virtru, the museum relied solely on standard Google share settings to protect data inside its network, which included some confidential information. But it was time to modernize and reinforce security, without adding more limitations. That’s where Virtru came in.

Securing the Museum's Digital Collection

To address these challenges, the museum implemented a comprehensive data security strategy bolstered by three key Virtru products:

Virtru Gmail and Google Drive Encryption: Protecting Day-to-Day Communications

For the museum's most sensitive departments, Virtru's Gmail and Google Drive encryption provided seamless protection directly within their familiar Google Workspace environment. The HR and executive teams emerged as the heaviest users, with finance and legal departments also relying heavily on the encryption capabilities to protect sensitive communications both internally and with external partners.

The solution enables users to encrypt emails and attachments, set expiration dates, disable forwarding, and even revoke access after sending, all vital capabilities for protecting the confidential information that flows through the museum's communications.

Virtru Data Protection Gateway: Safeguarding Donor Relationships

A keystone component of the museum's secure data-sharing strategy is the Virtru Data Protection Gateway, which now automatically encrypts donor information shared from the museum's CRM application.

The Gateway scans outbound communications for sensitive patterns, applying encryption and access controls that follow the data wherever it goes. This automatic protection ensures that valuable donor relationships—the lifeblood of the museum's ongoing operations—remain secure and confidential without requiring staff to change their established workflows.

From Vulnerability to Confidence

The museum's strategic approach, deploying 200 licenses focused on the most sensitive users (approximately half the workforce), has allowed them to significantly enhance security while working within budget constraints.

"As an IT Manager, Virtru has simplified our email encryption strategy immensely," says Javier. "It's incredibly easy for our users to adopt, and its seamless integration with our existing email platforms has been a major win. Virtru truly provides robust security without complicating our workflow."

Cultural Preservation Meets Digital Protection

For an institution dedicated to preserving the past, the implementation of advanced data security represents an investment in the future. The museum can now confidently communicate with donors, partners, and community members without risking sensitive information.

"Virtru delivers on its promise of strong data security with remarkable ease of use," Javier notes. "From an IT standpoint, deployment was painless, and the control features, like revoking access, give us great peace of mind. It's an invaluable tool for protecting our sensitive communications."

Just as William Miller Bowen led a campaign in 1909 to reimagine Exposition Park as a center for culture and learning, Javier Claros has led the museum into a new era where digital protection complements physical preservation—securing both the museum's historical treasures and its future operations.