Nokia has launched the NetGuard Security Management Center, bolstering its security solution family at a time when threats linked to an ever-connected world are on the rise.

NetGuard Security Management Center is said to be a consolidated, easy-to-use software platform that lets an operator monitor and control all the multi-vendor security systems deployed across its telecommunications network. Combining the monitoring and configuration of different systems in one place enhances security because incidents can be analysed and correlated centrally to protect against threats that could otherwise go undetected by isolated security systems.

As well as the quick and easy detection and prevention of attacks, NetGuard Security Management Center also increases operational efficiency and lowers the total cost of security for operators through automated and consistent mass configuration of security policies, bulk firmware upgrades and verification of vendor-specific security hardening settings.

• Security Management Center integrates all network security systems, regardless of vendor, to monitor security status and manage incidents, vulnerabilities, security policies and network access.
• The solution watches for threats in networks by proactively detecting security weaknesses and correlating them according to its internal database.
• Security analytics are then applied by a rules-based, configurable decision-making engine that triggers automatic corrective action or helps operators implement a manual response.
• The system optimises the configuration of security parameters and thus reduces the risk of network infrastructure attacks.
• Unlike vertical solutions dedicated to protecting network elements, Security Management Center offers a comprehensive view of the whole network, correlating events coming from typically isolated layers such as radio access, transport, core and operations to detect and mitigate a wider range of threats.

Dr. Stefan Pütz, VP Network and Infrastructure Security, Group Security Services, at Deutsche Telekom (DT) said: “We at Deutsche Telekom highly appreciate Nokia’s approach, which comprehensively addresses security with a consolidated solution that brings much greater value than the sum of individual security modules. For instance, with the automated security audit together with security alarm correlation, we will be able to pinpoint attacks that today’s networks simply cannot detect.”

Giuseppe Targia, head of Security at Nokia, said: “Networks are becoming more heterogeneous and open, leaving them increasingly prone to cyber attacks. Any subsequent degradation of network performance, whether a partial or complete outage, is one of the biggest threats to operators. The impact of such an event can range from a few dissatisfied customers to severe damage to the entire business. Our NetGuard Security Management Center gives operators confidence that their whole networks are safe, not just some individually protected parts.”

Security is a real concern for the Internet of Things. Any device with an IP address is potentially vulnerable to a malicious attack. In the Vodafone Barometer 2015, 64% of businesses responded that security and privacy are the most common obstacles in the way of machine-to-machine adoption.

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