Verizon Business Launches Enhanced IT Security Consulting Services to Help Businesses Identify and Protect Their Data

Verizon Business Launches Enhanced IT Security Consulting Services to Help
Businesses Identify and Protect Their Data
'2009 Data Breach Investigations Report' Found That Almost Two-Thirds of Data
Involved in Breaches Was Unknown Data

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- To help businesses identify and
protect their data wherever it flows, Verizon Business has launched an
enhanced and expanded version of its IT security consulting services.

The services, called Data Discovery, Identification and Security
Classification (DDISC), address a key security issue for businesses: the
heightened risk they face because they often do not know where all of their
data resides in today's highly connected business world, or even what the data
contains.

In fact, for two-thirds of the data involved in breaches that Verizon Business
investigated in its "2009 Data Breach Investigations Report," the breached
organization did not know the data even existed on its systems.

The DDISC services -- which are immediately available in North America, Europe
and the Asia-Pacific region -- discover, identify and classify data stored on
a business' servers and extended network linking customers, partners and
suppliers. As part of the services, expert Verizon business IT security
consultants review the relevance and sensitivity of the data, and compare it
with the enterprise customer's business goals. This information is then used
to determine whether the company is handling and securing its data
appropriately.

Verizon's DDISC also helps organizations manage compliance with security
standards and regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security
Standard (PCI), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
and Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA).

Previously, Verizon Business had offered its security consulting services to
businesses on a custom basis. To create DDISC, Verizon Business standardized
and strengthened these services to ensure uniformity across its global
security practice.

"We believe this approach represents a change in security strategy as the
industry increasingly sees security as much more than the protection of
networks or applications," said Dr. Peter Tippett, vice president of
innovation and technology at Verizon Business. "Our new consulting services
reflect this shift and take a data-centric approach to security that
emphasizes the business value of information and its potential impact on the
organization."

Irida Xheneti, security services research analyst at IDC, said, "As corporate
and customer information has become a critical asset, securing the path this
information travels is critical for many businesses. Organizations, however,
are struggling to even locate where the information resides and then
prioritize it accordingly. Through its new service, Verizon Business is
enabling enterprises to protect critical information while also assisting them
in building a proactive, risk-based approach to IT security."

Verizon Cybertrust Security
Verizon Data Discovery, Identification and Security Classification joins the
company's robust portfolio of security solutions, aimed at helping enterprises
and government agencies manage security risk and protect critical company
assets. The portfolio includes governance risk and compliance solutions, data
loss and prevention solutions, identity management solutions, and managed
security services. The company's more than 1,100 security professionals around
the globe deliver these offerings through a range of managed services,
professional services and technologies, based on what best suits the customer.
More information is available by visiting
http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/products/security.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global
leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise
with one of the world's most connected IP networks to deliver award-winning
communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely
connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers,
partners, suppliers and employees - enabling them to increase productivity and
efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest
businesses and governments - including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and
thousands of government agencies and educational institutions - rely on our
professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their
business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

SOURCE Verizon Business

Media, Brianna Carroll Boyle of Verizon, +1-703-859-4251,
brianna.boyle@verizon.com; or Clare Ward, +44 (0) 118 905 3501,
clare.ward@uk.verizonbusiness.com; or Junaidah Dahlan, +65 6248 6827,
junaidah.dahlan@sg.verizonbusiness.com, both of Verizon Business