IBM and AT&T team up on network security to ward off cyber threats

IBM and AT&T announced tonight a new strategic relationship to give businesses a simplified, single source for both network security and threat management.

The two companies will offer business customers a joint service that combines security network infrastructure with advanced threat monitoring and analytics.

The internet and mobile businesses keep growing, but cyber threats are growing with them. Such threats threaten to leak boardroom secrets, bring down a companies’ networks, create compliance issues, lead companies to lose money, and impact brand reputation.

But a silo-like approach to security doesn’t work, as threats run across multiple information technology environments. Dealing with that need is what lies behind AT&T and IBM’s decision to team up. The aim will be to reduce costs, minimize complexities, gain visibility into diverse iT environments, and simplify infrastructure.

Christina Richmond, analyst at market researcher IDC, said that the alliance could meet a real market need for better end-to-end security.

“With today’s constantly changing threat environment, companies need cost-effective solutions that provide end-to-end protection alongside real-time monitoring and response operations,” said Andy Daudelin, vice president of security services at AT&T Business Solutions, in a statement. “We’ve created an unparalleled solution with the combined strength, reliability, and agility of AT&T network-based security services and IBM threat intelligence and analytics.”