Stadt Straubing depends on Halon Classify for optimal safeguarding of administration and educational institutions.

Ultimate email protection, when it matters

The city of Straubing has effectively utilized Halon Classify to safeguard the email communications of the city administration against spam, phishing, and malware. In 2024, this established solution was extended to encompass all municipal schools, resulting in notable improvements in IT security, daily operations, and user satisfaction.

Rising threats push Stadt Straubing to expand email security across the company

In Straubing, the city's IT department is well-organized: 14 employees assist the administration, while an additional six oversee 18 schools and their respective systems. Although the administration has utilized Halon Classify for several years, threats to schools surged notably at the start of 2024. Particularly alarming was the unusually high volume of malicious emails at the year's onset. This was a clear indication for IT Director Stefan Boiger to implement the protection system in schools as well.

"Email serves as our primary communication platform. Nearly all administrative processes are conducted digitally, and schools are progressively adopting a paperless approach. When email communication falters, we recognize it instantly."

Stefan Boiger - IT Director, Stadt Straubing

The city's IT teams were confronted with a dilemma: on one hand, they must address the increasing demands for security and data protection, while on the other hand, they must also guarantee the seamless continuation of daily operations.

Why Straubing chose Halon Classify for city-wide protection

The decision to implement Halon Classify universally was driven by multiple factors. The rise in phishing and ransomware attacks targeting municipalities underscored the necessity for preventative measures.

Concurrently, municipal IT teams are grappling with staffing shortages, rendering them unable to combat attacks through manual efforts alone.

Consequently, the solution needed to be both dependable and seamlessly integrable into existing operations.  The capacity to customize specific filter rules and whitelist entries also played a pivotal role.

Another significant aspect was data protection. As a municipal authority, Straubing is required to comply with
the highest standards.

"With Microsoft or other free solutions, I am uncertain about the specific locations and methods of the checks conducted. In contrast, Halon Classify offers transparency and genuine connections."

Stefan Boiger - IT Director, Stadt Straubing

Seamless execution and technical integration

The implementation of Halon Classify in the schools was swift and seamless, resulting in no significant disruptions. Due to its smooth integration into the existing infrastructure, the city did not require additional hardware or extensive training. The initial results became apparent in a short period: spam emails and phishing attacks were consistently intercepted without any discernible impact on school operations.

Halon Classify's comprehensive analysis feature proved to be exceptionally beneficial. The system categorizes emails into distinct classifications, identifies mass mailings, targeted attacks, and potentially harmful attachments, thereby facilitating meticulous management. Educational institutions and administrators can ascertain which emails should be delivered, flagged, or blocked.

“This provides our employees and teachers with a markedly enhanced sense of security. The emails that are received are reliable and safe.”

Stefan Boiger - IT Director, Stadt Straubing

Cleaner inboxes, more productive email workflows

The implementation of Halon Classify has significantly streamlined daily operations. Email traffic in schools has
remarkably diminished, and the formerly substantial amount of spam has been nearly eradicated.

Time that was once devoted to sorting and reviewing messages can now be utilized more productively.

At the same time, users benefit from a greater sense of security as malicious emails are effectively prevented from reaching their inboxes. The benefits have also been evident for IT professionals:

We can now redirect our attention to strategic projects rather than addressing email issues on a daily basis.

Fabian Block, IT Director, Stadt Straubing

Mission Control

The prompt response time of the Halon Classify support to inquiries or issues significantly enhanced the overall experience. The direct communication with the expert team is especially valued, facilitating the swift resolution of technical challenges.

Our NPS score

We’re proud to have such a high NPS score. It is a testament to our ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction and exceptional support.

See Why

Proactive protection today, scalable security for tomorrow

With the extensive implementation of Halon Classify in Straubing, the city has made a significant advancement in achieving comprehensive IT security. The integration of superior detection capabilities, robust infrastructure, stringent data protection standards, and cooperative support from the provider has demonstrated effectiveness.

"I would recommend Halon Classify at any time due to its high availability, user-friendly interface, and professional support."

Stefan Boiger - IT Director, Stadt Straubing

For Straubing, the principle is evident: security starts with thwarting threats before they can access its systems. The city is already contemplating the expansion of its security measures to additional areas in the future to guarantee proactive protection and address increasing digital demands.