Singtel works with Palo Alto to launch cyber security service

Singtel's Mr Chang (left) and Palo Alto's Mr McLaughlin. Their firms have teamed up to provide the Advanced Threat Prevention service, which helps firms secure their networks, mobile phones and tablets, enabling employees to take their own devices to
Singtel's Mr Chang (left) and Palo Alto's Mr McLaughlin. Their firms have teamed up to provide the Advanced Threat Prevention service, which helps firms secure their networks, mobile phones and tablets, enabling employees to take their own devices to work. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SINGTEL

Singtel has partnered with security firm Palo Alto Networks to start a new service to protect firms against cyber criminals.

The Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) service, as it is called, helps firms secure their networks, mobile phones and tablet computers, which enables employees to bring their own devices to work.

The service operates on Palo Alto Networks' next-generation security platform, which protects organisations by allowing safe applications to pass through networks, cloud and endpoint devices, but blocks both known as well as unknown threats and suspicious applications.

Its service here is being delivered through Singtel's security operations centre, which monitors cyber threats globally. Singtel has 2,000 security professionals worldwide, including its elite SpiderLabs cyber response team.

Singtel also runs eight operations centres around the world to give organisations round-the-clock coverage. This is possible as the centres are constantly updated with information from Singtel cyber security arm Trustwave's sensors and the SpiderLabs malware research lab, as well as Singtel's network of security intelligence partners.

Research company Gartner said the global managed security services industry will grow from US$15 billion (S$20.4 billion) last year to US$27 billion by 2019.

Mr Bill Chang, chief executive of group enterprise at Singtel, said: "Together with our Trustwave service, the trained cyber security experts at our Advanced Security Operations Centre can forestall cyber attacks and use the information of any neutralised malware to update our global threat intelligence to benefit other regions."

Mr Mark McLaughlin, chairman and chief executive of Palo Alto Networks, said: "Our collaboration gives organisations the peace of mind to implement key technology initiatives within their cloud and mobile networks."

The ATP service is the first cyber security solution of its kind in the Asia-Pacific, Singtel said yesterday.

Marissa Lee

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 24, 2016, with the headline Singtel works with Palo Alto to launch cyber security service. Subscribe