IBM Expands Security Consulting Practice

IBM on Monday announced a broad expansion of its security consulting practice, including a partnership with Kroll Inc. for physical security assessments and protection.

Among the new offerings from IBM Global Services are enhanced intrusion detection and vulnerability assessments, security policy assessments, managed firewall services, and VPN and authentication services.

IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., is also creating a Global Solutions Office to handle security issues.

The company named Rusine Mitchell-Sinclair to head up the Global Services Safety and Security Practice, and Elizabeth Primrose-Smith to run the office of Global Security Solutions.

Much of the impetus for the new offerings and reorganization came from customer requests in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in September, company officials said. While IBM has long had a significant presence in the security market, customers began asking for larger solutions that included biometrics as well as assessments of their companies physical site security and safety.

“This is a large corporate initiative that we feel addresses what customers have been requesting of us,” said Mitchell-Sinclair. “Weve really strengthened our offerings and can now offer a holistic approach to linking different platforms so we can do complete assessments.”

Kroll will work with IBM to provide physical security assessments, IT infrastructure security assessments, gap analysis and recommendations as to what customers can do to prevent physical or computer attacks.

Much of the IBM offering will revolve around products from its Tivoli division, but the company will also integrate products from its partners as well as technologies developed by its Research and Development Labs.