Samaritans call on Linux for help

NEWS Emotional support charity the Samaritans has opted for a Linux-based security set-up in a bid to keep costs under control while ensuring the confidentiality of its clients' email communications. The organisation chose Trustix and IBM to build Linux-based security into its expanding IT infrastructure. It was already using SuSE Professional Linux distribution. Samaritans is installing a four zone Trustix Firewall on an IBM eServer x305 and a Trustix Proxy Server on an IBM eServer x300 server. People in emotional distress can now contact trained Samaritans volunteers by email. Currently 80 of the charity's 203 branches throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland offer the service, with more set to come online in the coming months. Mike Hermon, IS manager at Samaritans, said: "An email is sent in confidence to a single address, jo@samaritans.org, and administered centrally. Network security provided by the IBM/Trustix solution is essential to maintain total safety and confidentiality for our email callers." Service provider Nouveau Solutions recommended the Trustix/IBM system.