IBM today illustrated a way companies can keep their computer systems up and running in the face of
attacks by malicious outsiders or even employees.
Designed for businesses with heavy computer data traffic, IBM Tivoli
Security Operations Manager protects networks by proactively detecting and
neutralizing security threats as they happen rather than after the system is
harmed.
The software analyzes the security data and prioritizes security incidents
in real time, cutting a company’s response time from minutes to
milliseconds.
Moreover, network performance can be measured against service
level agreements signed with customers.
Telco customers and other big businesses have put an emphasis on such
proactive security measures because they often support global data networks
that must house customer information, sales records and shipping updates for
easy access.
And these companies are becoming increasingly aware of major threats, thanks
to reports from the Computer Security Institute (CSI).
The CSI said today that virus attacks, unauthorized access to networks,
lost/stolen laptops or mobile hardware and theft of proprietary information
account for more than 74 percent of financial loss in businesses.
Cisco Systems
Need some examples? A denial-of-service
outsiders can cripple an ISP’s ability to provide access to its clients.
Also, data breaches perpetrated by disgruntled former employees are becoming
more prevalent among large companies who forget to turn off their access to
computers that house sensitive information.
Not to mention the proliferation of computer worms, which IBM called “a growing
scourge.”
In a company’s worst nightmare, denial-of-service assaults, viruses, worms
and inside attacks threaten corporate data regulations because they can lead
to compliance failures that federal agencies take very seriously in the wake
of Enron and other accounting scandals.
Tivoli Security Operations Manager can help process the annual audits
required by Sarbanes-Oxley and other federal regulations, which have become
big financial drains on budgets.
IBM acquired the technology when it purchased Micromuse earlier this year, and has spent the last few months integrating
and adapting it for the Tivoli brand.
Tivoli Security Operations Manager also integrates with network and systems
management from Netcool Omnibus and Tivoli Enterprise Console to monitor
security incidents over voice, video and data over IP.
The product also works with Tivoli Identity Manager and Tivoli Access
Manager to help companies head off insider attacks such as identity theft.
IBM said Tivoli Security Operations Manager will be available Monday.
IBM isn’t the only vendor to take an interest in network management and
security. , BMC Software
,
HP , EMC
and CA
play
here, thanks largely to acquisitions.
Last year, EMC acquired
Smarts Technology and CA picked up Concord Communications to shore up their customers’ network defenses.
