AT&T and IBM Simplify Cyber Security Management

ARMONK, N.Y. and DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* and IBM today announced a new strategic relationship to give businesses a simplified, single-source for network security and threat management. The two companies will offer business customers a new joint service combining security network infrastructure with advanced threat monitoring and analytics.

Cyber threats have become a boardroom agenda with the potential to bring down an organization's network, create compliance issues, damage bottom lines, and impact brand reputation. Additionally, disparate security technologies create 'security silos,' increasing cost and complexity of security management, and making it almost impossible to uniformly monitor security threats across IT environments. The new service from AT&T and IBM will help businesses address these challenges with a highly secure network infrastructure, analytics, and the optimal blend of on-premise and next-generation cloud-managed security capabilities.

AT&T and IBM will improve the management of these capabilities with the following customer benefits:

• Reduced costs and minimized complexities
• Advanced visibility with intelligence and control across diverse IT environments
• Simplified infrastructure with less need for security hardware, licenses, and maintenance

AT&T and IBM individually have world-class IT security data monitoring operations, each generating advanced security threat intelligence from the billions of security events they track each day.  Together, the companies will create a combined security intelligence source and analytics capability that will be unmatched in the industry.   

The new offering is comprised of proven solutions from AT&T and IBM. Specific elements of the new offering include Network Security Infrastructure and Managed Security Services from AT&T, including network-based firewall, IDS/IPS, web filtering, secure email gateway, and distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection services for security devices managed on premise or in the AT&T cloud.  IBM capabilities include IBM Network Security Consulting to assess and transform network security; IBM Security Monitoring and Threat Intelligence for faster threat detection and response; and IBM Emergency Response Services for around-the-clock security expert support in responding to sophisticated attacks and helping remediate them.

"With today's constantly changing threat environment, companies need cost-effective solutions that provide end-to-end protection alongside real-time monitoring and response operations," said Andy Daudelin, VP, Security Services, AT&T Business Solutions. "We've created an unparalleled solution with the combined strength, reliability, and agility of AT&T network-based security services and IBM threat intelligence and analytics."

"Organizations are finding great benefits with hybrid IT strategies that blend mobile, cloud-based and on-premise IT resources," said Kris Lovejoy, General Manager, IBM Security Services. "But securing these infrastructures can be complicated without a single, integrated management system that avoids creating silos of security data making it almost impossible to uniformly monitor security threats across environments. IBM and AT&T have come together to offer unprecedented security services designed to break down those silos and better secure data no matter where it resides."

"This is an advantageous combination of industry-leading network-based security, consulting, and analytics," said Christina Richmond, Program Director, Infrastructure Security, IDC. "AT&T and IBM are meeting a real market need with a robust end-to-end security solution that provides enterprise customers with both integration and simplicity."

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About IBM Security
IBM Security helps organizations stay secure by offering intelligence, integration and expertise – and helps clients take a step-by-step approach to building a security strategy and establishing security intelligence.  IBM Security harnesses analytics, new innovations, and a systematic approach to security will usher businesses into a new era markedly more secure than the past. For more information on IBM, visit www.ibm.com.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.  Reliability claim based on data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. 4G LTE availability varies.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.