HP embarks on public sector security push

Hardware giant HP has released a series of security products and services to help public sector organisations stave off attacks by cyber criminals.

The first of these new offerings is a service called HP Assured Identity, an offering designed to make it more difficult for outsiders to hack into public sector systems.

Speaking to IT Pro, Jay Huff, marketing director at HP Enterprise Security Products, explained: "Identity management is a key part of that offering...which gives organisations the ability to transact with each other and their customers in a more secure way using authentication services in the cloud."

The web application layer is quickly becoming the soft underbelly for cyber attacks.

The service will allow public sector firms to pick up on any anomalies during these transactions and act on them, he added.

The firm has also launched a Comprehensive Applications Threat Analysis (CATA) on Demand service that detects cyber threats that exploit vulnerabilities in the applications businesses use.

"The web application layer is quickly becoming the soft underbelly for cyber attacks...[because] people are writing quality code, but they're not necessarily writing secure code," said Huff.

"That is introducing a number of security vulnerabilities that can be exploited," he added.

Furthermore, HP has also taken the wraps of its HP Security Operations Consulting Services offering, which is designed to help the public sector establish their own in-house cybersecurity units.

"This is about helping public sector organisations to stand up their own security and get more out of their current set up," said Huff.

"We also have our own network of security operations centres that [can also] offer a managed service."

HP's slew of public sector security services will protect end users from a wide range of attacks, including ones that take advantage of poor software patch management and those caused by user error.

"It is about covering the basics and [helping public sector firms] to up their game to protect against more vicious or sophisticated attacks," added Huff.

The firm also launched HP Datacentre Protection Services today, to help users optimise the security infrastructure of their facilities, as well as new additions to its ArcSight and Tipping Point security product portfolios.