Internet banking has become a valued convenience, yet one that raises a number of issues involving security. When Penn Federal Savings Bank, a 60-year-old New Jersey banking institution based in West Orange, decided to launch its on-line banking service, the company also committed to provide the most comprehensive security available.

Penn Federal Savings Bank retained Integrated Business Systems (IBS) of Fairfield, New Jersey, to engineer and implement a security solution that would allow customers to access on-line services and also enable employees at each of its 21 branches throughout the state to access the Internet without concern.

"Penn Federal Savings Bank already had a great deal of technology in place," noted Scott Donnelly, director of sales and marketing at IBS. This included the company's six servers and a Unisys mainframe. Its remote branches are connected through a frame relay network.

"All of this technology contributed to the complexity of the security solution," Donnelly added. "The success of this project depended on our ability to study the company's network design, identify its vulnerable areas and subsequently determine the necessary steps to protect it from security breaches."

Ultimately, IBS provided an Axent Raptor firewall, a top-of-the-line, hardware/software-based product suited for major corporations and financial institutions. The firm augmented the firewall with the Intruder Alert and NetProwler intruder detection devices. "Even with a sophisticated firewall in place, the possibility exists that a hacker will find his or her way around it," Donnelly explained. "Intruder protection devices monitor network flow and use, and can alert appropriate personnel when an unauthorized party is accessing or manipulating data."

Today, Penn Federal Savings Bank customers can enjoy the added benefit of Internet banking, and the bank itself is benefiting from the peace of mind afforded by a strong Internet security plan. "The Internet will continue to evolve as a critical tool in the banking industry, and Penn Federal Savings Bank is well-positioned to offer its customers the most comprehensive services," Donnelly noted. "For us, the project was particularly gratifying, especially in light of the stringent federal guidelines and insurance scrutiny involved in the banking industry. We consider the assignment a tremendous vote of confidence in our ability as a third-party provider of networking and security solutions."

During the assignment, IBS also helped Penn Federal Savings Bank design an intranet accessible to everyone connected to the bank's network. The intranet is now being used as an employee handbook and as a resource for companywide information.

Penn Federal Savings Bank's internal MIS department continues to use IBS for general network consulting projects as well.