Network Security Firm Guards Vital Data
Portland, Oregon, June 17th 2005 - Ron Fowler, president of the Southeast Portland networking specialist Structured Communication Systems Inc., concedes that his company's trade doesn't exactly spawn a slew of humorous stories.
That's because Structured, as employees and customers call it, must guarantee that it's customers enjoy tight network security while ensuring that any such systems work reliably and correctly. Anything deviating from that script, of course, would repre-sent huge problems for both Structured and its clients.
It is, taken all together, a group of services that's absolutely critical. Structured offers state-of-the-art security, storage and data management, systems and servers, local-area network connectivity and wireless-area network access.
So the splashiest component of Fowler's business arrives via its recent gaudy numbers: Revenue nearly tripled in the last three years, from $7.56 million in 2002 to $21.5 million in 2004.
The overall 185 percent jump put the 13-year-old company at No. 22 on the Business Journal's Private 100 list.
The accompanying rise in employee numbers saw Structured double its base, from 30 in 2002 to 60 in 2004. Those in Structured's trenches average more than 15 years of experience in consulting, designing and implementing "complex multivendor solutions," Fowler said.
The company also sports an all-star list of clients, including Hitachi Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard Storage, MASS, NetScreen Technologies and Symantec. Beyond the numbers and clients, though, Structured is a very matter-of-fact enterprise run by a very matter-of-fact guy.
"There just aren't a lot of stories, and we can't talk about some of the problems we've uncovered" because it might give hackers ideas, said Fowler.
That's not to say he's plainspoken. Asked if Structured actually installs networking systems, Fowler confirmed it via the long route. "We provide full end-to-end life-cycle management of these solutions, which includes installation and full sales support," he responded.
"We try to integrate a holistic approach with all of our clients to meet challenges of very complex infrastructures," he said, adding that several of these clients are Fortune 1000 companies.
Structured's systems can be adapted for a range of activities. One outfit might use it to ensure it meets compliance standards associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, intended to improve corporate accountability.
Another might enlist Structured to help it follow patient privacy rules dictated by the sweeping Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
As part of its charge, Structured ensures that it also stores information off-site, then works to allow clients to quickly access it when needed.
"Customers not only want their information protected, they want to make sure that data is available when they need it," Fowler explained. "So in that realm, we're addressing how the networks are connected and how we access it. We're there to make sure it's secure, that it's confidential and available. And that there's data integrity," meaning the data remains un-tampered with.
Structured's mission has grown evermore important in recent years with the advent of identity theft. Fowler's company guards a raft of information that identity thieves crave.
"We're protecting a lot of the information the bad guys are after," Fowler acknowledged. "in the health care environment, there's patient information, insurance information and financial information. Our technology provides a series of options to bring this together."
Structured has also ventured into protecting companies using Voice over Internet Protocol services, a hot Internet trend.
"We can make sure there's secure messaging and messaging identity protection," he explained.
Fowler's industry drew increased attention after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. "People sought to secure all of their business's critical assets, which includes data," he pointed out. "That raised awareness and took the discussion from a level where it was just about technology to being what's best for the business.
"The Homeland Security Act talked about how every PC must be secured, and that made security discussions a much easier discussion to have."
Fowler started his career as an engineer after graduating from Portland State University in 1980. He explored the sales side of networking before Structured came along in 1992.
Its recent growth means Structured could also attain a higher profile. Fowler said the company is expanding its presence in the Northwest - including a recent foray into Alaska - and will likely open an office in Denver.