Astaro Donates Security to Inner-City Youth
Hopeworks empowers kids with local Internet security vendor's help.
February 04, 2009 (Wilmington, MA) - Astaro Corporation (http://www.astaro.com), leading vendor of Internet security appliances, today announced that it has donated another year of Network, Web and Mail security subscriptions to a Camden, New Jersey-based youth organization, Hopeworks 'N Camden. Hopeworks, which seeks to enhance the lives of inner-city youth by expanding their learning opportunities, has been using an Astaro Security Gateway for the past year to secure its network of computers.
Based in Camden, New Jersey, Hopeworks trains local inner-city youth in state-of-the-art computer applications, including website design, geographic information services (GIS), computer networking and repair, and video. Father Jeff Putthoff, Founder and Executive Director, explained that the organization was previously using a program called WinProxy as their main Internet security solution but that it was unreliable and crashed often, leaving their network open to threats and impeding the safety and progress of the students. Astaro donated an Astaro Security Gateway to replace WinProxy a year ago.
"This is just such a robust security solution, and it just runs," Putthoff explains. "I can't tell you how nice it is that I don’t have to think about it anymore. The youth can be our top priority instead of worrying about whether or not Hopeworks' security appliance is going to work."
Hopeworks takes advantage of a variety of functionality on the Astaro Security Gateway, including firewall capabilities, intrusion prevention, web content (URL) filtering and IM and P2P management. Putthoff explains that the donation of another year of subscriptions does a lot for the organization.
"We work with a variety of kids, including high school dropouts and others that have limited choices without further education. In this economic climate, there aren't nearly as many companies giving charitably to organizations like ours. Astaro is really helping make something very good happen."
About Hopeworks
Since 1999, Hopeworks has been creating positive change in the lives of Camden's youth. Hopeworks has designed a unique and successful youth empowerment program that addresses the critical issues that need to be tackled in order for "at-risk" youth to have the tools necessary to achieve their goals. The mission at Hopeworks is to empower youth to develop their D.R.E.A.M.S. (Dynamic Realizable Efforts to Attain and Maintain Success) and to own their future. Hopeworks works to create hope-filled futures for Camden youth by expanding learning opportunities, working together to identify goals, enhancing self-esteem through real-world jobs, and building an intentional community of support.
About Astaro
Astaro offers the most complete and easy to use Internet security appliances available. Combining best of breed applications, the proven quality of Linux and enterprise level performance, Astaro's award-winning products provide the latest protection with the best total cost of ownership. Software, hardware and virtual appliance offerings provide users the flexibility to meet a wide variety of deployment scenarios. Distributed by a growing worldwide network of more than 3,000 resellers, Astaro products protect over 100,000 networks for 47,000 customers across 60 countries. Astaro, headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA and Karlsruhe, Germany, offers free downloads of its products at www.astaro.com.
Press Contact
Nicole Eckert
Astaro Corporation
+1 (978) 974-2645
neckert@astaro.com