Software provider Computer Associates International Inc. and corporate security services provider Pinkerton Consulting and Investigations Inc. announced Monday that they will partner up in order to provide security services at both the cyber and physical levels.
According to the companies, the alliance will mean additional technologies and service capabilities targeted at a wide range of security concerns including insider attacks, unlawful use of corporate assets, theft of intellectual property, executive protection and workplace violence prevention.
Toby Weiss, senior vice-president of eTrust at CA iin Islandia, N.Y., said the alliance will bring a full security solution to customers.
“The clients are asking for this type of combined solution. Security has really risen to the board level and you need a complete solution in order to address it at board level,” Weiss said.
According to the companies, vulnerabilities in cyber and physical infrastructure are linked, meaning that a breach in physical security can be the first step in gaining unauthorized access to corporate data stored on a computer server. Conversely, the compromise of physical assets or key personnel can be initiated through a breach of computer systems and networks.
Erik Laykin, senior investigator, Pinkerton Consulting and Investigations in Los Angeles, said there are many new tools – including CA’s new eTrust 20/20 product – to help the two companies fully protect their customers.
The 20/20 tool is software that enables organizations to detect security violations across physical and IT systems. This, according to CA, enables clients to pinpoint fraudulent behaviour and establish the identity of the perpetrator.
“When [the 20/20 tool is] properly combined with…authentication devices, the user will be identified during the course of their movement through any particular building within an enterprise – as well as their access to certain servers, or certain files, or certain IT apparatuses,” Laykin said.
CA’s eTrust line includes security information management, identity and access management, policy compliance and configuration management and secure content management.
As of Monday, the security services offered by the companies are available to customers. Targeted markets for this alliance include large enterprises and government organizations.
In addition to their alliance with Pinkerton, CA has also formed a cross industry forum – The Open Security Exchange (OSE) – with three other organizations.
The organizations involved include: Horsham, Pa.-based Gemplus Corp., a smart card solutions provider; Irvine, Calif.-based HID Corp., a manufacturer of contactless access control readers and cards for the security industry; and Lexington, Mass.-based Tyco Fire and Security’s Software House, a security division of Tyco International Ltd., which provides integrated physical security management systems. The organizations have formed in order to address today’s most significant security management challenges.
The OSE is developing vendor-neutral interoperability specifications and defining best practices guidelines for integrated security management, according to CA.
Additional information on the OSE can be found online at http://opensecurityexchange.com. Pinkerton can be found online at www.ci-pinkerton.com. CA can be found online at www.ca.com.