Intel Security Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

Acronis, a global pioneer in cyber protection, announced the enhancement of its security defence against advanced fileless attacks using Intel® Threat Detection Technology (Intel® TDT) leveraging the Intel® integrated GPU to offload memory scanning operations from the CPU. Acronis is the latest cyber protection company to integrate Intel® TDT to enrich its security products.  With cyber threats evolving and growing on a daily basis, Acronis researchers have witnessed new types of malware and attack vectors on enterprises such as polymorphic malware and fileless attacks. Many threats utilise an in-memory-only approach which can be hard to detect. Intel® TDT technology Intel® TDT technology allows Acronis cyber protection solutions to free resources while scanning HDD and memory resulting in improved system performance. Acronis researchers found that while scanning all the processes in system memory on supported CPUs, Intel® TDT reduced the load on the CPU 2.4× times, by offloading the job to the Intel® integrated GPU. Acronis solution combines complete single-agent cyber protection with Intel® TDT The Acronis solution combines complete single-agent cyber protection with Intel® TDT. This enhancement results in lower CPU utilisation which allows more compute capacity for productivity and office software used by Acronis end customers while compute-intensive security operations run in the Intel® integrated GPU. The innovation of Intel® TDT will be available through Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, Acronis Cyber Protect, and Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office solutions. Integration of Intel® TDT into Acronis cyber protection solutions “The integration of Intel® TDT into Acronis cyber protection solutions is a logical step to meet the needs of our users," said Patrick Pulvermueller, CEO at Acronis. “During the last year, we observed that almost 50% of attacks detected were fileless. The use of this Intel technology is a great milestone as we continue to optimise and enhance our anti-malware engine.” Patrick Pulvermueller adds, “Through our collaboration with Acronis to integrate Intel® Threat Detection Technology into their cyber protection solutions, customers of all sizes that utilise Intel vPro® can perform frequent and highly performant memory scanning." Enhanced cyber security Acronis provides its users with the ability to take back control and overcome complexity "This is a great benefit for our mutual customers as we help them stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats,” said Carla Rodríguez, Vice President and General Manager, Ecosystem Partner Enabling at Intel. “As the IT world grows in sophistication and continues its migration to the cloud, more stress has fallen on security teams with less-integrated technology, creating complexity and unintentional blind spots in security systems,” said Research Vice President of Security and Trust, Michael Suby at IDC. Recent IDC survey Michael Suby adds, “According to a recent IDC survey of 1,015 security professionals in North America, this is particularly the case for smaller organisations who are less equipped to effectively operate separate products from multiple vendors or benefit from a position of strength in negotiating with multiple vendors. As such, they are more likely to resonate with an integrated hardware and software approach to endpoint security.” Acronis provides its users with the ability to take back control and overcome complexity with an integrated platform which results in greater operational efficiency. By implementing an integrated solution like Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, organisations can reduce the time that security teams spend on various operational activities, lower training costs, reduce the complexity in their environment by minimising the number of tools managed, and ultimately drive business growth.

Secure Media Exchange (SMX) provides a simple, safe way for industrial plants to use USB-removable media and manage USB ports Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) announces a new solution for industrial sites as they balance productivity and cyber security demands. Honeywell’s new Secure Media Exchange (SMX) protects facilities against current and emerging USB-borne threats, without the need for complex procedures or restrictions that impact operations or industrial personnel. Malware spread through USB devices – used by employees and contractors to patch, update and exchange data with onsite control and computer systems – is a key risk for industrial control systems. It was the second leading threat to these systems in 2016, according to BSI publications, and uncontrolled USBs have taken power plants offline, downed turbine control workstations, and caused raw sewage floods, among other industrial accidents. Secure USB use “Industrial operators often have hundreds or thousands of employees and dozens of contractors on site every day,” said Eric Knapp, Cyber Security chief engineer, HPS. “Many, if not most, of those rely on USB-removable media to get their jobs done. Plants need solutions that let people work efficiently, but also don’t compromise cyber security and, with it, industrial safety.” Currently, many plants either ban USBs, which is difficult to enforce and significantly reduces productivity, or rely on traditional IT malware scanning solutions, which are difficult to maintain in an industrial control facility and provide limited protection. These solutions fail to protect process control networks against the latest threats, and offer no means to address targeted or zero-day attacks. “SMX is a great example of Honeywell’s major investments in new industrial cyber security technologies, products, services, and research which further strengthen our ability to secure and protect industrial assets, operations and people,” said Jeff Zindel, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security. “With the continued increase in cyber threats around the world, Honeywell’s industrial cyber security expertise and innovation are needed more than ever for smart industry, IIoT and critical infrastructure protection.” Largest industrial cyber security research capability Honeywell’s SMX was developed by the company’s cyber security experts based on field experience across global industrial sites and feedback from Honeywell User Group customers. Honeywell has one of the largest industrial cyber security research capabilities in the process industry, including an advanced cyber security lab near Atlanta. Honeywell also partners with cyber security leaders, including Microsoft, Intel Security and Palo Alto Networks, among others, to develop new, highly-effective industrial threat detection techniques. Honeywell’s SMX provides hassle-free, multi-layered protection for managing USB security, letting users simply plug in and check devices for approved use in the facility Honeywell’s SMX provides hassle-free, multi-layered protection for managing USB security, letting users simply plug in and check devices for approved use in the facility. Contractors “check-in” their USB drive by plugging it into an SMX Intelligence Gateway. The ruggedised industrial device analyses files using a variety of techniques included with Honeywell’s Advanced Threat Intelligence Exchange (ATIX), a secure, hybrid-cloud threat analysis service. SMX Client Software SMX Client Software installed on plant Windows devices provides another layer of protection, controlling which USB devices are allowed to connect, preventing unverified USB removable media drives from being mounted, and stopping unverified files from being accessed. SMX also logs USB device connectivity and file access, providing a valuable audit capability. “For most plants, the proliferation of removable media and USB devices is unavoidable, but the security risks they bring don’t have to be,” said Knapp. “We know our customers have limited resources to maintain another system, so Honeywell manages SMX for them. SMX never connects to our customers’ process control networks. From a system administration perspective, it’s like it’s not even there.” Managed and maintained directly by Honeywell, SMX provides the easy and secure solution to USB security in industrial plants. It helps prevent the spread of malware through removable media; stops unverified files being read by Windows hosts; and, through the private ATIX connection, provides continually updated threat information and advanced analytics to help detect advanced, targeted, and zero-day malware.

The event provides guests with topics ranging from VVMS, Operating Systems, Processors, Server and Storage Technologies Promise Technology Inc., the developer of the open storage platform for IP video surveillance, is hosting its inaugural Promise Surveillance Solutions Summit at the Palace Downtown Dubai on May 12, 2016. Along with its distribution partner Musallam Trading, Promise is bringing together industry leaders, including Microsoft, Intel, Toshiba, and Axxonsoft in one event focusing specifically on the newest trends and solutions for the video surveillance market. The event provides guests with invaluable access to the latest intelligence in topics ranging from Video Management Software, Operating Systems, Processors, Server and Storage Technologies and much more. Promise partner ecosystem “We are really looking forward to showcasing how Promise is working together with the major companies throughout the surveillance ecosystem to develop solutions that ensure a safer future and a more efficient realisation of security objectives,” said John van den Elzen, General Manager, Surveillance Business Unit, Promise Technology. “The Promise partner ecosystem is a vitally important piece of our strategy in the surveillance market and we cannot wait to share more about the incredible solutions we have built together.” “Musallam has become one of the leading Value Added Distributors in the region by consistently bringing an unprecedented level of knowledge and resources to our customer base of integrators and dealers,” said Eng. Mostafa Fawzi, Business Development Director, Musallam Trading. “The Promise Surveillance Solutions Summit is another example of how our understanding of the leading technologies helps Musallam offer the best solutions for our customers.”