Our client is a leading provider of Information Technology (IT) solutions for community-based financial institutions with capabilities ranging from Core Processing to eBanking and Check Imaging to Business Intelligence. Their financial solutions enable commercial banks, credit unions, and savings institutions to optimize operational efficiencies, mitigate risks, maximize revenues, and fortify their customer or member relationships.

The company uses a HORIZON banking system, built to run on the IBM® i5/OS platform. The system provides financial reporting, transaction processing, and relationship management capabilities for hundreds of banks.

The company took notice of the negative publicity associated with lost or stolen tapes containing private customer data. They recognized both the need and revenue opportunity of adding functionality to their system that would enable their clients to encrypt the data being saved to backup tapes. The company began researching backup tape encryption solutions that could be integrated with HORIZON and resold as an add-on module, enabling their clients to secure backup tapes using a simple and cost-effective method.

The company was also looking for a solution they could use for their own i5/OS machine, as they exchange private customer information and account data with their clients for testing purposes when they do upgrades. They also wanted to protect proprietary data on their machines.

With SecureZIP, the company’s client banks, many of whom do not have their own programmers and system analysts, can select encryption options from the HORIZON systems menu. It works like any other end-of-day function, allowing them to merge the options into automated processes for end-of-day backups on their i5/OS systems. The company now has multiple instances of PKWARE products working within their operating environment, including PKZIP®, SecureZIP, and PartnerLink.