Information Security Solutions for The Digital World

Information being the essential ingredient in the success of  any business, organization today has made technology  an indispensable part of the  business environment.  Storage of information as well as exchange of  data between employees, supplies and customers has become easy with technological involvement. However, the exponential rate of data growth takes the IT professionals through a challenging task of providing efficient data security solutions.

Information security thus is a major concern in an environment where the entire process of storing, distribution, accessing of every single sensitive and confidential data is done digitally. All organizational data ranging from personal details, to client lists, bank details, marketing strategies, sales information, and any other organizational details need to be well protected from both external and internal threats.

Over the years a number of software applications have been developed to provide firewall protection to ward away threats and virus scanners to protect against data damage. However, today's dynamic business environment with involvement of a number of IT outsourcing companies, large amount of digital data transfer and storage requires a competent information security system that would involve the elements of risk analysis and risk management.

The globally networked world has made data and information accessible from any location and any device irrespective of the distance. Further, with the every single detail pertaining to the organization and the global workforce stored on computers, organizations need to have a continuous process of identifying, assessing and managing security risks while responding to the ever changing customer demands, legal and industry requirements. 

Though there are number of service providers in the arena, organizations look forward to partner with service providers who can establish a business aligned information security framework along with an enhanced Return on Security Investment. The wide range of security solutions offered by these service providers include:-

·         Ability to establish a Security Framework for business verticals.

·         Call for lesser investments on new technology

·         Ability to manage intricate multi-vendor and heterogeneous client environments

·         minimizes operation expense with hassle free handling of domain experts

·          increased profitability and efficiency

 Further to cater to the ever increasing demands for accessibility across various horizontal and vertical layers, the leading service providers offer a wide spectrum of services that includes Identity &  Access management, Information security consulting and  Managed Security Service. All these cuts through the diversified information security products, technology and compliance requirement of the organizations at large.

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Managed network services

Network Support Services Empowers the Corporate Network

The globally bound business organizations aim for newer markets and higher revenues. However, globalization with its benefits also offer these organization challenges of maintaining a vastly spread out organization. Nevertheless, technology has brought in a number of innovations that has facilitated the widely located offices of these enterprises to remain connected through the corporate network.

Corporate network is a  network service which as per Wikipedia definition is a service hosted on a computer network on a defined service protocol to provide functionality for end users of the network.  The client computers or end-users share the resources with the help of servers.  Further  technological  advancement led to increased demands for a stronger IT infrastructure  with more focus on the networked environment. Maintaining network security was another  challenging factor for the new age organizations. However, to ensure secure data transfers, the  network services were configured as local networks and wide area networks with a valid internet protocol address for every user accounts.

The aggressively competitive business environment led to network  services becoming the backbone of the global organization. However, the continuous increase in  IT infrastructure and applications  has  made the  network a complex environment. Business houses and corporate sector in need for an end-to-end   networked systems looked towards  organization which would provide them with seamless and highly managed network services.  Further, good support services are also essential in managing the networked environment. Outsourcing the management and network support services to experts will facilitate the global enterprises to focus on core issues.

The leading service providers with years of experience and team of experts   help the global  organizations with optimum and cost-effective network services. The  entire suite of  managed  services include conceptualization, implementation and delivery of LAN and WAN management, unified communication systems, management of the network operations center and IT security consulting for the networked environment.

However, for a network support service to be truly effective , requires the services to be open to the clientele 24/7. The expert teams  from the leading service provider are available at all times to provide solutions to problems faced in network system integration , implementation services, VoIP, WLAN management or network virtualization. A good network support service provider is one that ensures  integrated performance and end-to-end visibility across  the infrastructure landscape with   faster and timely communications through an online service desk and this forms an important part of customer relationships.

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Maintaining the Conjugal Alliance between IT and Business with Business Service Management

The IT landscape is no longer a quick fix technological patch for rectifying defects. Its foray into the business world has revealed its significance. The business persona has undergone vivid transformations ever since IT has been at the helm. Today IT has to be aligned with your business rather than be a mere technological setup to add values to your business operations and provide powerful support in every aspect. You need tools that help nurture the marriage between IT and your business.

You need IT tools that serve as business service management tools for critical assessment of the tools of your business, the people and processes involved, aligning the business processes and deploying them as service-oriented tools. The process helps in prioritization of IT projects with high business values and provides solutions that help in achieving the business goals. It provides opportunities for optimization of IT data and processes for leveraged business performances. It ensures that the critical applications are restored without any wastage of time.

The adoption of the BSM process helps in enhanced revenues, reduced costs and risks. You can improve the performance of your business with the BSM tools by analyzing the customer experiences and the efficiency of the business processes. The tools help you to manage your complex business transactions easily. It increases visibility and makes you aware of the progress. The BSM tools provide comprehensive and integrated and secure monitoring, analytical and configuration solutions that deliver high quality performances.

The BSM methodology provides proactive insights which helps in averting any unexpected emergencies and huge losses. It has the capability to render large and impressive impacts on your business. It delivers productive infrastructure management processes through efficiently managed network services. Since the business management processes are deployed on the cloud it provides you an opportunity to benefit from the remote infrastructure management facilities. The services are quick and simple to deploy which helps in reducing costs.

Efficient managed security services are imposed that help in managing the risks effectively. The deployment of a proficient identity and access management process ensures that all unauthorized entries are identified and dealt with severity.

The business service management model ensures a high rate of predictability so that your business does not encounter unpleasant experiences and suffer losses. It provides a platform for an integrated and collaborative management of your IT applications. It supports your business with best practices that help in achieving the objectives without any disruptions. The business service management tools provide a conducive platform for an effective collaboration between IT and your business.

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Network Security Is The Backbone Of Organizational Growth

Global organizations with the help of the Internet and the technological innovations have created a network of enterprises that are geographically separated but closely knit. With computers and technology becoming an integral part of everyday business operations, information and critical data are dependent on technology for its storage and transfer to various locations. However, with this fast method of information sharing comes the fear of data loss.

In a networked organization, the security of data and information is based on its network security. Network security which is complicated has been from historical times been handled by experts who managed network services. With the business expansion, an everyday scenario in most business establishments, new members get wired on everyday. Hence, a clear understanding of the information security services is required for managing the network security.

Wikipedia defines network -as any set of interlinking lines resembling a net, an interconnected system, or a network of alliances. A computer network then can be defined as a system of interconnected computers, wherein the interconnections can be in a number of ways. Networks are subjected to attacks from malicious sources. These attacks can either be passive (intercepted in the network) or active (initiated) to disrupt the networks operations.   When large volume of mission critical data is transferred and communicated through these networks, its security is a matter of grave concern.

Network security being the backbone of organizational growth, the process starts by authenticating the user with a username and a password. Authentication can be based on a single factor or multiple factors.  The password is an example of a single -factor authentication system. The authentication paves way for a firewall to be put in force that states the policies to access the network by the users. Effective for an unauthorized access, these firewalls fail to check the virus such as computer worms and Trojans that enter the network. Under such circumstances, the organizations tend to make use of antivirus software and intrusion preventive systems to detect intrusions. For cases like denial-of-service - a network threat, an anomaly-based intrusion detection system will be effective in monitoring the network. Further, encryption of the communication between tow hosts is done to maintain privacy and safety.

Leaders in network consulting services, also make use of honeypots to decoy the network accessible resources. These managed security services provider offer real-time protection to the organizations and reduces the risks involved in an ever-changing threat environment. A techno centric focus, proactive security posture, a flexible delivery model and a balanced approach, by these security service providers ensures that the enterprises are safe from cyber threats, malware infections, phishing attack and web application attacks besides being regulatory compliant to global standards.

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identity and access management

Simplifying the Implementation of Identity and Access Management

Identity and access management (IAM) technology have become an integral part of security tools, and most enterprises are realizing the value of the same. IAM is fundamentally involved with the establishment of identity components in business processes and technology solutions so that it manages users' identities and offers logical admission to an organization's application. As this technology is used to initiate, capture, record and manage user identities and their associated access permissions in a preset fashion, it ensures that there is information security consulting, and that access privileges is granted according to one interpretation of policy and that all individuals and services are suitably authenticated.

The need for adopting IAM Processes
The need to comply with regulations such as HIPAA, SOX and PCI are driving users to adopt Identity Management technology. It is essential to establish the accountability around data access and management, and it is important that IT provide value to the company's employees by giving them smooth access to the business apps. Without the proper access an executive may not get the required information to close a sale.

Simplifying the Implementation of Identity and access management
An inadequately controlled IAM processes can lead to regulatory non-compliance for the reason that if the organization is audited, the management will not be able to prove that company data is not at risk for being misused. And hence it has become necessary for IT security operations groups to be paying specific attention to IAM providers that are focused on a strategy to simplify the implementation process.

An identity and access management (IAM) program consists of a technology solution interconnected with pertinent business processes, to manage the identity of users and their access to systems and applications in the organization. For any IT application, the access procedure commences with user confirmation and granting apposite access privileges based on the user's role. The automation of these measures is usually created in the IAM program. The IAM program needs to be attentively envisaged, by incorporating sound IT architectural vision to prevent being saddled with IAM silos in different departments.

A few tips for a successful TAM implementation
To avoid implementation challenges like federating identity, risk-based authorization and role management these tips can help.

1. It is important to know where the organization is headed with IAM implementation.
2. Getting the suitable people involved is essential.
3. Implement incrementally: use a phased approach that delivers value early and often.
4. Educate the end users, business and IT staff on the new technology and process changes.
5. An IAM solution needs routine attention to stay in top form.

Although the benefits of identity and access management implementation are significant, the organizations that are most likely to realize them are those that have a detailed, realistic implementation plan in place. And by making the implementation process simple, an organization stands to gain a lot.

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Remote IT Infrastructure Outsourcing Strategy - MSP's The Real deal Breakers

IT infrastructure outsourcing is the practice wherein organizations contract services and tasks related to the organization's IT infrastructure and operations to a service provider. They may outsource one or more specific services or may simply decide to supplement the capacity of its existing IT department.

If you want your business to grow you need to focus on customers and business innovation—and IT must do its part. When it comes to the IT infrastructure businesses need to become more agile, ready to take risk and ready to spend more on innovation. In the present day scenario businesses are looking beyond cost savings and looking to IT infrastructure operations outsourcing.

According to Gartner, ”After a setback in 2009, in which the global market for IT outsourcing fell 2.8% to $231 billion, the market rebounded in 2010, growing 2.8% to $237 billion with forecast growth to $254 billion in 2011, a growth of 7.1%.”

With the advent of cloud computing there is a lot of change in the infrastructure outsourcing space. IT outsourcing service provider is responsible for some or all of an organization's hardware and software components, including firewalls, servers, computers, desktop and laptop PCs, handheld devices, printers, operating systems, and e-mail management.

IT infrastructure outsourcing can also include infrastructure facilities, system security, data storage, backup and recovery management, help desk support and maintenance. It is the responsibility of the service provider to take proactive measures to maximize the uptime and availability of an organization's IT infrastructure.

As CIOs increasingly work with remote infrastructure management tools for configuration, testing and distribution of software, more and more engineers are being empowered to remotely manage data centers, storage, networks, desktop support, help desk and security.

Remote infrastructure management outsourcing, or RIMO—is emerging to help buyers gain many of the hoped-for benefits of asset ownership transfer without the exorbitant costs and risks associated with that older model.

RIMO is becoming increasingly popular form of outsourcing in which a solution provider assumes responsibility for managing specific or all IT/network functions. The organization contracts for a solution provider to continuously monitor its systems; identify potential problems and remediate and resolve real events from a remote location.

In an RIMO scenario, a Managed Network Service Provider(MSP) commonly provides remote network, desktop and security monitoring, patch management, remote data backup and other technical services, monitoring a client’s IT infrastructure and resolving any issues that arise within it. Most MSPs charge either a per-month fee, on a time-and-materials basis, or per deployed device (e.g., per server or network device). RIMO is particularly important for the small-to-medium-sized business (SMB) market, giving businesses a relatively cost-effective way to manage their IT without having to hire on-site staff.

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What Is the Need for Information Security Management?

IT has become an indispensable component of a business’ existence as the processing, storing and distribution of business data is reliant on IT functionality. This data is sensitive and confidential and requires a competent management system to keep it away from any kind of unauthorized access or misuse. With growing amounts of data, IT administrators are perpetually challenged to ensure security management solutions for protecting information from not only outside threats but also threats from within organizations, such as disgruntled employees or those with vile intentions.

Information security has become top priority in today’s highly competitive environment. To survive any misfortunes, businesses need to implement the best IT solutions that are in alignment with their business goals and requirements. With several new emerging technologies, they need reliable technology partners that can implement ideal practices that help them grow and be successful among the competition.
Factors that demand resilient information security management are:

1. The security policies, activities and objectives that denote the purpose of the business
2. A supportive strategy for information security that is in alignment with the business and has affirmative implementation, maintenance, monitoring and improvement capabilities
3. High levels of commitment and support amongst the different management units
4. Focus on highlighting awareness amongst employees and other related parties regarding information security
5. Identification of ongoing changes to initiate appropriate controls on the existing technology, processes and policies of the business

With the constant unfolding of IT and internet benefits, businesses have discovered the convenience of working while on the move without affecting the performance of the business. The freedom of remote accessibility through wireless systems has not only facilitated employees and employers but also security hackers who gain access to company systems and thereby inherit windfalls. The popularity of e-commerce, online trading, etc., has revealed the blatant exploitation of vulnerable systems and thus has created the need for high-end security measures such as cryptographic algorithms.

Businesses should be aware of the fact that their partners who provide information security services should also provide powerful identity and access management services to restrict any unauthorized or suspicious entries. The emphasis should be on a stringent identity and access mechanism to help identify fake users and snuff out their actions before they cause any damage.

There is no inclination about the kinds of risks that may threaten a business’ information security systems or from which direction they may come. It is best to be prepared for any situation at any time so that damages can be controlled and minimized, and businesses can be saved from being defunct. With effective information security management, businesses can be assured of dependable security policies that provide unfailing support to repel attacks of any intensity. 

 

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Co-Sourcing Model Benefits

As IT moves away from being a support function to a key business enabler, the loss of control and inflexibility associated with the traditional approach has made it less and less favourable. Fundamentally, it is no longer possible to plan all aspects of costs and innovation over a 5 -10 year period upfront and package them as a business case and contract.  

Co-Sourcing Model

Companies can now fulfil their global sourcing needs of its customers through the new co-sourcing model which provides a new and fundamentally disruptive sourcing proposition to companies that are primarily looking for flexibility and strategic control of their overall IT outsourcing engagements. 

• * The new co-sourcing model is based on a collaborative approach to outsourcing.
• * It can be defined as a partnership between the customer and the service provider based on fundamental tenets of flexibility and transparency.
• * In a way it helps to reduce sourcing risks and provide better control over outsourced processes.
• * Some of the services include – internal audits, risk management, process definitions and amendments, IT infrastructure management etc.
• * It may also include part-development of software or conducting software maintenance activities only.
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By using the new co-sourcing model offered by consulting firms -

• * Customers have the flexibility in choosing the right sourcing model.
• * Companies can choose alternative delivery models like cloud based services (Saas)
• * They can also set up shared and dedicated delivery centres depending on their client needs while balancing cost and economies of scale.  

On the other hand, the IT outsourcing firms offer the following benefits to clients if they choose to use the co-sourcing model.

• * They partner with other hosting partners across the world to host datacenter and field services.
• * They provide desk-side support and also e-bond with their client companies to ensure that clients receive a seamless and uniform service, irrespective of the geographical location of the functions.
• * They also deliver services by leveraging uniform and standardized tools and processes across the IT function. 
• * They offer engagement flexibility depending on customer environment- whether it is completely multi-sourced or whether the consulting firm plays part of a larger framework where the company is the primary integrator.

Some of the other services provided by IT outsourcing companies may include – information security services, managed desktop services, managed print services, managed network services, application management services, service desk services etc.

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Identity and access management