Security firmMcAfeehas announced what it claims to
be the firstsecurity managementplatform that
links network, data, system and compliance management
software.
"The latest version ePolicy Orchestrator links all these systems
to enable businesses to reduce cost and improve efficiency," said
Greg Day, security analyst at McAfee.
According to Day, version 4.5 takes the ePolicy Orchestrator
(ePO) from a being a system management console to a
cross-enterprise integration and correlation tool.
The software also integrates for the first time with workflow
tools such as
HP OpenView and
BMC Remedy to help improve visibility and efficiency of IT
operations.
"The console now pulls everything together in a single console
in real time to enable businesses to identify and manage risks to
meet compliance requirements," said Day.
This makes it possible for organisations to achieve a much
higher level of security defence automation and compliance
reporting than before.
"For the first time, ePO users will be able to automate
protection on user profiles, which is especially useful for
enforcing data privacy policies," said Day.
Enhancements to existing process management facilities in ePO
will help reduce operational cost, which is important to many
companies in an economic downturn.
These facilities include co-ordinating security tools from
hundreds of different suppliers to work in response to real-time
security intelligence feeds.
The ePO enables real-time updates from McAfee's Global Threat
Intelligence service, which includes the Artemis and TrustedSource
security intelligence feeds.
Large enterprises using ePO report savings of up to 50% in
hardware and 60% on staff time to manage security
infrastructures.
"This means highly paid IT professionals are able to use their
skills for more appropriate things instead of mundane
administrative tasks," said Day.
Qualcomm CIO Norm Fjeldheim praised the ePO 4.5 framework and
open security management platform.
"This demonstrates that McAfee understands the importance of
holistic, continual optimisation," he said.