ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM)
today introduced a new Analytics software and services offering
aimed to help companies in the Travel & Transportation industry
mitigate IT security risks and address a growing volume of advanced
threats and data compromising incidents faced by the industry.
Utilizing counter fraud and security technologies and services, IBM
will help hotel chains, airlines, car rental agencies, commercial
freight and other industry companies not only assess their current
security posture but resolve any potential threats or incoming
vulnerability.
Travel is one of the top products bought and sold on the
Internet, generating volumes 50% greater than retail averages,
making it a primary target for hackers. The ever-rising usage of
credit and debit cards by airlines, travel intermediaries and
hospitality companies, coupled with having passenger data stored in
frequent flier and rewards programs, have the industry rightly
bracing for cyber attacks and breaches of their corporate and
customer data.
Airlines, for example, have hundreds of systems that need to be
safeguarded, including operational systems, passenger information
databases, and inventory records or pricing systems. Global hotel
chains on the other hand, have to not only secure themselves at the
corporate level, they must also protect customer information at the
property level. IBM's new security offering is specifically
designed to analyze data both inside and outside the company
firewalls, to provide continuous protection and complete end point
management to Travel & Transportation companies.
The new offering will use IBM's QRadar Security Intelligence
Platform to create a unified architecture that will integrate
security information, anomaly detection, incident forensics and
configuration, as well as event, log and vulnerability management.
IBM's Security AppScan software will enhance web and mobile
application security; improving security program management while
strengthening regulatory compliance, through Security Assessment
Services and Industrial Controls Cybersecurity Consulting Services,
helping leverage the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) framework to reduce cyber risk.
"At United, we have developed a comprehensive security strategy
to vigorously protect our assets and our customer data," said
Michael Kennaugh, Vice President of
Information Technology for United. "IBM has been a valued partner
and we are excited to leverage QRadar to assist in managing
United's IT security."
The new offering follows a proven plan that covers six main
security strategies: Understanding the current security posture and
defining an incident response plan, followed by creating an
infrastructure to protect critical data and enhancing visibility
into possible flaws, then executing an approach to safeguard
transactional systems and securing applications. This plan will
help Travel & Transportation companies quickly identify
corporate and customer data as 'crown jewels' and ensure they are
adequately protected.
Moreover, if a company is currently under attack, the plan will
include access to an Emergency Response Team, which designs and
reviews current incident response plans, and gives 24/7 access to
IBM security experts in the case of an ongoing breach. The
Emergency Response Team will also provide access to key resources
that can enable faster recovery and reduce business impact from
ongoing incidents.
"Security is not a 'project,' and needs continuous, rigorous
discipline to deal with incoming threats. The only economical,
practical, and viable way for Travel and Transportation companies
to protect themselves is to layer themselves in protection,
adopting both defensive and proactive approaches," said
Marty Salfen, General Manager, IBM
Global Travel & Transportation Industry. "Many security
solutions are largely defensive, leveraging advanced security
analytics as a weapon will allow Travel & Transportation
companies to detect, react, remedy and go on offense quickly."
For more information about IBM travel and transportation
solutions, visit www.ibm.com/travel
CONTACT:
Alexander Aizenberg
IBM Media Relations
1 (212) 671-9616
aizenberg@us.ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM