TB HIV Care optimises IT costs and fortifies security with +OneX
The client
TB HIV Care is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) that puts integrated care at the heart of responding to TB, HIV, and other major diseases. The organisation works towards preventing, finding, and treating TB and HIV in South Africa.
The challenge
TB HIV Care has a tight technology budget and a small IT team, and needed help modernising its infrastructure and closing cybersecurity gaps. The management team recognised the importance of demonstrating security leadership and protecting patient data and funders’ investments. Compliance with the United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), were of paramount importance.
The solution
+OneX Security Services and Solutions, a long time Microsoft Solutions Partner, reviewed TB HIV Care’s wireless network and firewall security and conducted a security audit across its on-premises and cloud networks. We also evaluated TB HIV Care’s ICT architecture and worked with the NPO to optimise Azure cloud costs and spending on Microsoft software licences.
Our survey of the TB HIV Care environment revealed that the wireless network was erratic and unsecure with an obsolete firewall that did not have management or security capability. We put a redundant firewall in place to manage and secure remote user access with a virtual private network (VPN) based on modern security protocols.
TB HIV Care’s human resources application contains sensitive personal information and is accessed by users from multiple locations. +OneX enhanced security, user experience and performance by moving the application onto the Azure Compute platform.
One platform, Azure Active Directory, is used to authenticate all requests, including TB HIV Care’s firewalls and servers. Integrated security features in Office 365 protect the 900+ TB HIV Care mobile users from email compromise, credential phishing, and ransomware. We monitor the performance and cost of all Azure services via our TotalCare managed services.
Our managed service, TotalSecure, includes a security operating centre (SOC) and incident response solution that helps TB HIV Care to stay on top of emerging security threats and leverage the full range of Microsoft security benefits. We maintain a bird’s eye view of the environment with Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender.
Business value achieved
+OneX Security Services and Solutions improved TB HIV Care’s security posture, transferred skills to the NPO’s IT department, and reduced the time the IT team spends on supporting end users. TB HIV Care is saving more than R260,000 a year by reducing technical support to field staff by 50%, removing all duplicate licensing, and optimising Azure. The organisation has also avoided costs and risks associated with security breaches. By adhering to best security practices in compliance with regulations, TB HIV Care can win the confidence of its funders to support its valuable work.