Data Return Debuts Security Suite

Data Return Corp. (Nasdaq: DRTN), a leading global provider of managed hosting services, Monday (March 5) announced the introduction of several new security offerings developed to secure client applications and ensure faster incident response times.

“Clearly, there is a need for our enterprise-level customers to have access to the latest security technologies available,” said Robert Prosen, senior vice president, operations for Data Return. “We have taken security services to a new level with this suite of products – our team of experts has combined the latest technology with Data Return’s proprietary software to enable our Information Security Team to provide the most secure managed hosting environment available today.”

The new suite of products includes Reactive Intrusion Detection Services (RIDS) and Vulnerability Assessment Services. Data Return’s custom-developed RIDS product combines intrusion detection with packet-blocking technologies to deliver unique protection against attacks. RIDS works in real-time to detect, identify and block intruders before the system can be compromised.

Utilizing the RIDS method, Data Return can decode and detect attacks that others miss, including fragmented attacks, NMAP scans and many other malicious attacks without affecting CPU utilization or system throughput. Most common denial-of-service attacks are also blocked utilizing the RIDS methodology.

The Vulnerability Assessment Service (VAS) is a pre-packaged offering that addresses the increased customer need for enterprise-level security in an outsourced managed hosting model. The monthly VAS package includes vulnerability scans, an annual penetration test, ongoing remediation and operating system hardening.

Data Return’s Information Security Team uses customized system diagnostic tools to perform scans, search for system weaknesses and exploits, and ensure the overall health of the system through regular remediation services. In essence, Data Return takes on the traditional responsibilities of an internal IT security team that would normally reside at the customer site.

Data Return also provides value-added services for event-based and point-in-time security. During an event-based anti-penetration engagement, Data Return can dedicate a security team, led by one of its senior CISSP-certified engineers, to actively monitor and aggressively respond to any security incident. In addition, Data Return’s Data Forensics Team members are trained by the National Security Agency and certified expert data forensics investigators.

In the event that a customer needs to go to court to reclaim damages resulting from a third-party security breach, these subject matter experts are available to provide testimony on behalf of the customer. Finally, if needed Data Return can partner with select third-party security firms to perform an external scan to validate the security controls Data Return has put into place.

The new suite of security offerings complement Data Return’s ServiceGuard secure firewall solutions introduced in January 2000. ServiceGuard is a family of managed security solutions designed to eliminate the performance and reliability tradeoffs enterprises face when securing high-traffic eCommerce and corporate extranets.

Dallas-based Data Return’s managed hosting services are utilized by leading enterprises including Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corp., RadioShack.com, Texas Instruments, Pier 1 Imports and World Bank. Data Return also provides managed infrastructure services for ASPs. Data Return strategic investors and Global Alliance Partners include Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corp. and Level 3 Communications.