Healthcare Provider Achieves Enhanced Security

A leading integrated healthcare system serving multiple regions in the U.S. faced a major challenge when its security infrastructure became financially unsustainable. The firm partnered with Advizex to implement an innovative solution that maintained robust security while bringing substantial cost savings.

The Challenge

The healthcare provider was using VMware’s NSX Distributed Firewall (DFW) subscription to keep its electronic medical records (EMR) system secure. This system also covered a variety of other workloads running on vSphere. The problem occurred when Broadcom acquired VMware and substantially changed the packaging and pricing structures. Retaining the security infrastructure would have required an upgrade to the VMware Cloud Foundation with a vDefend firewall subscription. This would have been cost-prohibitive for the healthcare system, leading it to seek professional services to find alternatives.

The Solution

The healthcare provider brought in Advizex. Leveraging its deep expertise in healthcare security solutions, the Advizex team recommended Illumio as an alternative. Illumio offers several packages for healthcare security, including an on-premises solution and a software-as-a-service (SaaS) option. With guidance from Advizex, the client settled on the SaaS edition because of its immediate readiness and robust feature set.

The implementation followed a strategic three-phase approach:

1.   Initial deployment with core security features

2.   Extension to include endpoint protection

3.   Final expansion of security coverage

Due to the importance of security in the healthcare industry and the time-sensitive nature of the project, the Advizex team planned and executed a highly efficient process. The whole project was timed for a seamless transition with the expiration of the NSX subscription. The roughly four-month implementation process was split nearly equally among gathering data, implementing the new system, and thoroughly testing the policy sets to ensure the security matched or exceeded that of the outgoing solution.

The Results

The switch to Illumio delivered on every need the client had. It brought financial, technical, and operational benefits to the healthcare provider’s security posture. These included:

Financial impact:

·  First-year cost savings exceeding $200,000

·  Projected annual savings of more than $250,000 for subsequent years

Technical advantages:

·  Elimination of VMware dependencies, providing greater upgrade flexibility

·  Enhanced disaster recovery capabilities with Azure VM compatibility

·  Additional security features and functionality

Operational benefits:

·  Maintained robust protection for sensitive patient data

·  Improved system interoperability

·  Enhanced cloud integration capabilities

Importantly, the solution was implemented in a timely manner, preventing the client from having any lapses in its security.

Looking Forward

The healthcare provider was happy with the results provided by Advizex. Due to the success of the project, the client has approved plans for implementing additional security measures and extending protection to more endpoints. The decision to move to a long-term relationship demonstrates the value of choosing a security partner who understands both the technical and financial needs specific to the healthcare IT industry.

The successful transition provided by Advizex demonstrates the company’s ability to guide healthcare organizations through the complex world of security balanced with the need for budgetary restrictions. Advizex’s ability to choose innovative solutions and implement them efficiently gives healthcare providers the opportunity to enhance their security posture while reducing operational costs.