MegaPath expanded its managed security services to give customers the choice of having cloud-based security or to host their own equipment.
MegaPath announced on Jan. 10 a new managed security as a
service offering, which can be entirely cloud-based, on-premise or a mix of
both.
Customers can decide whether to have the complete managed
solution delivered from the cloud, have the equipment on-premises or have a
hybrid of cloud and on-premise systems, according to MegaPath. The hybrid
approach combines on-premises UTM (Unified Threat Management) appliance with private networking between the
organization and the cloud to provide enhanced security, according to the
company.
The new SAAS offering is based on the company's
PCI-certified MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) network, which was created
by the three-way merger of MegaPath, Speakeasy and Covad in September. The
merger gave MegaPath a full portfolio of voice, access, private networking,
managed security and application services for the enterprise. The cloud-based
services use the secured network, but on-premise customers are free to select
their own preferred Internet connection or purchase the MegaPath Internet
connectivity service, the company said.
Cloud-based security services are growing in popularity, as
underscored by
Dell's recent acquisition of Atlanta-based SecureWorks. The
acquisition added a ready-made
managed-security services offering to Dell's
rapidly growing services portfolio.
The "volume, sophistication and speed of attacks is beyond
what a single customer can manage," said Peter Altabef, president of Dell
Services, at the time of the acquisition.
MegaPath offers businesses struggling to defend against
complex cyber-attacks with mitigation capabilities such as intrusion prevention
with rogue wireless detection. Standard security features are also included,
such as advanced firewall, anti-malware with antivirus and anti-spam functions
as well as Web filtering with content filtering.
MegaPath also provides application security services with
advanced application control and data leak prevention. The managed services
platform also relies on Fortinet's UTM technology to help
customers control capital expenses and IT management resources, the company
said.
The Managed Security Services are targeted toward customers
in heavily regulated industries such as retail, health care and financial
services, with MegaPath emphasizing its "compliance services," which are
services designed specifically to assist customers in fulfilling regulatory
requirements. Compliance services include managed logging, vulnerability
scanning and security information management, MegaPath said. Managed logging offers
real-time collection and correlation of security events along with a daily
automated review function, MegaPath said. Security information management
allows customers to see security events correlated across multiple devices and
sites, providing them with an audit trail.
"MegaPath isn't just helping to lower costs; we are
reducing risk and increasing security," said John Ramsey, senior product
manager of managed security and compliance at MegaPath. Customers opting for
the on-premise UTM can protect their internal networks and Internet
connections, Ramsey said.
Regardless of whether it is entirely cloud-based or
on-premise, everything is managed by MegaPath using its management platform. Customers
can view activity, reports and preferences via a Web-based portal, the company
said.
MegaPath clients are charged a monthly fee for the cloud
service, while the costs of the on-premise version include the equipment as
well as the managed services fee. The fee varies by number of locations and is
availalbe in two- or three-year terms, the company said.
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