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Virtru email & file encryption enabled Illinois to meet PII protection while securing other sensitive legislative materials. They've established control over data even after it leaves their perimeter, addressing their concerns and strengthening data sovereignty.
The Illinois House of Representatives regularly works with sensitive data in the course of their lawmaking duties. From drafting laws and setting budgets, to communicating with various government entities and constituents, they needed a solution to strengthen their data protection strategy.
With staff handling highly sensitive and confidential information daily—from personally identifiable information (PII) to proprietary caucus documents and budget data—the organization recognized their existing security measures were insufficient against modern cyber threats, nation-state attacks, and evolving regulatory requirements.
With Virtru, the State of Illinois can:
Prior to implementing Virtru, the Illinois House of Representatives (IHOR), part of the Illinois General Assembly, relied primarily on native TLS email and file security and fax machines to transmit sensitive information. The organization had no encryption solution in place, which left them vulnerable to potential data breaches. They were particularly concerned about having unencrypted emails hacked or exfiltrated by malicious actors or foreign entities.
Their security priorities included protecting various types of sensitive information: PII (an Illinois state requirement), lobbyist information, proprietary caucus documents, and budget data. They needed a solution that would not only secure this data but also remove third-party access, especially from cloud providers.
After evaluating their options, the Illinois House of Representatives selected Virtru for email and file encryption, which provides them with the comprehensive protection they need for their sensitive communications and file sharing needs.
Virtru provides a layer of security for emails and files shared externally, while maintaining usability for staff and other stakeholders who interact with the product. IHOR needed to protect data being sent both internally and externally—to state agencies and departments, healthcare providers, legislative bodies and committees, and private citizens.
Virtru's solution integrated with their existing email environment, allowing staff to continue using familiar tools while gaining stronger encryption and controlled data access. The intuitive Virtru interface minimized disruption to existing workflows, which was crucial for the busy legislative environment where technology adoption needed to be straightforward and efficient.
The deployment addressed their specific requirement to enable easier file sharing with outside parties—a significant improvement over their previous reliance on fax machines for transmitting sensitive documents.
Since implementing Virtru, IHOR has dramatically improved its security posture while enhancing operational efficiency. Staff now securely communicate with various stakeholders without fear of unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The solution has enabled them to meet state requirements for PII protection while securing other sensitive legislative materials. By implementing email and file encryption, they've established control over data even after it leaves their perimeter, addressing their concerns and strengthening data sovereignty.
Virtru’s simple file sharing methodology has streamlined operations that previously relied on cumbersome fax processes. This modernization of their security infrastructure has allowed the legislative body to maintain the necessary protection for confidential information while improving collaboration with stakeholders. With Virtru email and file encryption, they've effectively balanced their security requirements with the need for efficient communication and file sharing in their legislative functions.
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