BT Enhances Security Monitoring Service to Protect Enterprises from Botnet Threats

BT Enhances Security Monitoring Service to Protect Enterprises from Botnet
Threats

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- BT today announced
the enhancement of its global Event Monitoring and Correlation service to
further defend enterprise networks against the growing threat of malicious
botnet attacks. Using new proprietary detection tools, BT can identify which
hosts within a customer's network are under the control of botnets and then
assist the customer with quarantine and remediation efforts to restore the
network's integrity.
Botnets are a significant security risk to businesses because they are
primarily used to execute criminal activity. A business is not only at risk
from compromised corporate and individual user information, but could also be
liable for criminal activity resulting from their infected networks.
Even businesses taking responsible precautions and exercising best
practices can still be compromised by bots and be unaware they have been
infected. Since most bots communicate only infrequently with their command
and control hosts, the chances of detecting infected machines prior to a
critical event, without significant technology and infrastructure investment,
are slim. However, since bots do communicate and these communications generate
firewall traffic, BT's Managed Security Solutions Group has created the
ability to detect bots by monitoring and analyzing firewall traffic.
This solution provides significant value-added service to BT's existing
Event Monitoring and Correlation customers worldwide and eliminates additional
infrastructure spending, since customers do not need to buy additional
proprietary detection technology or add IDPS (Intrusion Detection and
Prevention Systems) capability to their network. Firewall traffic is
collected and analyzed at the BT Security Operations Centers for patterns of
activity that bear the hallmarks of bot communications. Customers also
benefit from BT's proprietary technology to correlate across multiple security
technologies and its diverse customer base, significantly improving the
accuracy of these alerts.
When botnet activity is detected, the customer is notified immediately.
Activity is summarized for customers in daily reports, which form a historical
record they can then use to identify broader trends on their networks. This
assists customers in prioritizing remediation and policy activity.
"Our botnet detection tools provide customers with a significant layer of
additional protection that wasn't previously available," explained Jeff
Schmidt, Vice President and General Manager, Managed Security Solutions Group,
BT Americas. "Industry projections show that on a typical business day, there
are upwards of seven million separate bot attacks. It's essential that
companies ensure they have maximum and continuous early-warning security
measures in place to protect the integrity of their assets and mitigate
risks."
For customers who monitor their firewalls as part of their subscription to
BT's Event Monitoring and Correlation Service, powered by BT Counterpane, the
Botnet Detection Module is automatically enabled as part of the standard
service. Existing BT customers who do not subscribe to the firewall
monitoring service should contact their BT account manager to take advantage
of this new feature. New customers can contact BT at 1-888-710-8175 or via
email at sales@counterpane.com to speak with a security specialist to learn
how they can get a head-start on threat monitoring.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and
services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the
provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international
telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on
the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged
fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of
business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2008, BT Group's revenue was pounds Sterling
20,704 million with profit before taxation and specific items of Pounds 2,506
million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT
Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.
BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
SOURCE BT

Barbara Cattolica, PR - BT Americas, +1-925-242-0882, +1-415-309-2485,
barbara.cattolica@bt.com