DEK Halts Spam with Barracuda Email Security Gateway

Before 2005, DEK struggled with keeping email, one of its most important communication channels, flowing due to increasing amounts of unsolicited email hitting employees’ inboxes. The legacy email filtering system DEK relied on was not stopping the spam from bombarding the company’s 800+ globally based email users who were located both in the field and 18 satellite offices. According to Chris Bill, IT security analyst at DEK, an estimated 20% of spam was getting through to its email users. Originally DEK’s MIS department began filtering email to ensure compliance, however, spam had become a primary issue. Previously, the MIS department would check its email filter periodically. However, this became nearly a full-time task, which included the risk that a genuine email, possibly an order from a long-standing customer, could be inadvertently deleted. Bill says, “I cannot begin to think how much time was wasted by employees.” Plagued by complaints from frustrated users who had to wade through massive amounts of spam, as well as those who had lost important emails, Bill was tasked with finding a more capable email security solution that could also provide protection against ever-present threats. Compliance was also paramount to DEK. The MIS department and DEK management were keen to stop inappropriate content from entering the company and they also needed to ensure that employees did not send email that might include inappropriate language or content to customers.

DEK is a leading provider of equipment and processes for the high accuracy mass imaging of electronic materials. The UK-based company has developed screen printing technologies for leading-edge electronic assemblers since 1969. Through the combined strength of machines, stencils and screens, consumables and process support products, DEK delivers total support for their customers’ materials deposition processes. To ensure that its customers continue to receive this high-quality support and service, it is necessary for DEK employees to have solid, uninterrupted means of communication, companywide as well as with customers.