Case Study: Columbus Regional Healthcare System achieves stronger email security and streamlined management with Fortinet

How a Rural Healthcare System Stepped up Email Security

Columbus Regional Healthcare System, a 150‑bed independent health system with 10 satellite clinics serving rural Columbus County, NC, faced increasing email‑based threats while running an on‑premises Microsoft Exchange server. With legacy email and web filtering contracts expiring and a two‑person IT security team, the organization needed stronger, easy‑to‑manage protections against ransomware and malware without adding staff, so it engaged ePlus to evaluate alternatives.

With ePlus’s help Columbus Regional deployed Fortinet solutions—starting with FortiMail and FortiWeb and later adding FortiGate, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, FortiClient and FortiAuthenticator—to tighten email/web security and centralize management. The integrated stack enabled faster incident response, granular filtering, easier HIPAA compliance, reduced cybersecurity insurance rates, and improved protection for critical on‑premises systems, all while maintaining efficiency for the small security team.

Columbus Regional Healthcare System

Ed Duryee

Director of Information Systems