The German Red Cross Relies on 100% Private Email Management with Synology MailPlus

Synology impressed us with its rich feature set, ranging from Active Directory to video surveillance. Thanks to Synology, we can focus more on our core disaster relief mission.

Michael Risse, Volunteer IT Administrator at the German Red Cross Wuppertal District Association (Former Civil Service Worker and Certified IT Systems Electronics Technician)

The Challenge

Seeking a simpler, cost-effective email solution to replace the complex, outdated systems

Their email system was based on a Windows Server environment, consisting of an Active Directory Server, an Exchange Server, and Windows Remote Access, and an email filter was separately operated via a Linux server. When Microsoft ended support for the current hardware and software, the German Red Cross took the opportunity to evaluate the current situation and identify the critical needs in their following hardware and software purchases.

With only a few members with expertise in IT, maintaining and managing a new Windows server was complicated for the majority of the members, who primarily specialize in the social work sector. Self-management, which requires significant effort, is ultimately challenging for an organization with predominantly volunteer staff.

There are also considerations around the associated costs of purchasing an entirely new system. The German Red Cross needed a solution that offered excellent value for the money and a user experience simple enough for all members to manage so they could truly focus on critical tasks like disaster relief.

The Solution

Choosing Synology MailPlus as its secure, easy-to-set up, and feature-rich on-prem solution

After the evaluations above, the German Red Cross quickly decided on a NAS solution. Synology was known to them through prominent IT magazines like c't and heise.de. Synology DiskStation's rich features and wide range of applications made it an easy choice. The setup of the device and the Active Directory application was quick and straightforward, thanks to support articles and tutorials available on Synology's website.

The Client

The German Red Cross is part of a global community with around 100 million active volunteers. The organization is committed to the life, health, well-being, protection, peaceful coexistence, and the dignity of all people. In Germany, 4 million volunteers work with the German Red Cross. The DRK Wuppertal District Association was founded on February 21, 1947. The Wuppertal location has 114 volunteers, 130 full-time employees, and 6,000 supporting members. The responsibilities of the DRK Wuppertal include civil and disaster protection, caring for injured individuals during accidents or attacks, assisting people during evacuations, and providing medical services at football games, public festivals, carnivals, and concerts.

Non-Profit

1000-9999

Germany

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