San Diego company Websense, an online security specialist, was chosen by First Tech Federal Credit Union to protect its customer data in its upcoming merger with Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union. The merger between the two companies is worth over $4.75 billion, involves 38 credit union branches and over 335,000 individual members. It is the nation’s largest-ever interstate merger of credit unions.

Both First Tech Federal Credit Union and Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union had already been using Websense’s services. Their previous use of the Open Solutions service was essential to ease preparation for the merger.  Between April and November of last year, Websense worked with many credit unions to identify and secure over 55,000 pieces of merger-related communications.

Also helpful in the transition were the customer relations between Websense and the credit unions. The credit unions already had working relationships with Websense techs, ensuring personalized services with a specialized understanding of the credit unions’ individual structures. Both credit unions have since increased their subscription to Websense services.

Protection against risk of data loss during a merger is essential to merger success. Risk of data loss increases during times of merger. Enormous amounts of secure data are moved around during a merger, increasing the likelihood that the data is misplaced or otherwise lost.

Data is most often moved over the web and e-mail, put the security of the data at risk. Websense has recognized this need for security and developed systems to assisting in control, tracking and storage of confidential data during mergers and acquisitions. Websense also helps with compliance to regulations involving the security of transferred customer files.

Source: Credit Union Times, “First Tech Merger and Data Security: Online Only,” Mark Rapport, Aug. 9, 2011