Archive for the ‘Security Solutions’ Category

Thales helps North Dallas Bank and Trust Co. Protect Customer PINs

Thales, leader in information systems and communications security, announces that North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. chose Thales hardware security modules (HSMs) to help it move from outsourced PIN verification for ATM and debit transactions. With secure, in-house PIN verification, the bank has enhanced its service to customers with real-time balances while lowering its transaction costs.

“Customers want the balance they see online and on ATM receipts to reflect all their transactions, but with outsourced processing, customers had to wait,” says Greg Niemeyer, Executive Vice President of marketing and operations for North Dallas Bank. “Looking at customer service, security, and costs, it made sense to take control of ATM and debit transactions. With Thales HSMs providing security, our customer’s PINs have never been safer.”

Prior to implementing in-house PIN verification, North Dallas Bank outsourced its ATM and debit transaction verification processing to a larger bank. Using an HSM-protected process, the larger bank drove PIN verification and sent North Dallas Bank a transaction file detailing activity. To update customer account balances, North Dallas Bank regularly posted the file to its internal systems. Expensive for the bank, outsourced processing also inconvenienced customers because it often took several hours for balances to reflect recent ATM and debit transactions.

Using S1 Postilion software for processing and the Thales HSM 8000 to provide a secure processing environment, North Dallas Bank now verifies its customers’ PINs in-house. The bank is enjoying a number of benefits compared with outsourced transaction verification. Each transaction posts quickly, increasing customer satisfaction by providing easy access to more accurate balance information. Because it controls its customers’ sensitive PIN information, North Dallas Bank is more confident that the process and its reputation are secure. As an added benefit, the bank has seen transaction processing costs go down significantly, helping to make ATM and debit services more profitable.

“Add up the benefits of increased customer satisfaction and lower processing costs,” notes Niemeyer. “There’s no question that moving to in-house PIN processing with Thales HSMs and our S1 solution was a great decision. By using Thales HSMs, we’re protecting our customers’ PINs with the same unwavering diligence we apply to safeguarding their deposits.”

“Regulators demand that banks provide hardware-based protection for PINs,” says Franck Greverie, Vice President for the information technology security activities of Thales. “However, North Dallas Bank recognized that PIN protection is not just a compliance question. The bank is safeguarding its excellent reputation along with customer trust. We are pleased that North Dallas Bank chose Thales HSMs to secure in-house PIN verification, and we look forward to supporting its efforts to provide its customers with the best in service and security long into the future.”

Visit our digital media centres www.paymentssecurity.com and www.keymanagementinsights.com for industry issues and comment.

North Dallas Bank & Trust Co., established in 1961, has more than $1 billion in assets and is a locally owned bank with five locations in the Dallas, Texas, area. Learn more at www.ndbt.com.

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Security Events Planner 2011

Three major security related events can be pencilled into your diary thus far for 2011. In conjuction with our events page here are the details.

The world’s leading Counter Terror Expo will be held on the 19 – 20 April 2011 at London Olympia, London, UK.

Infosecurity Europe, where information security professionals address the challenges of today whilst preparing for those of tomorrow will be taking place on the 19 – 21 April 2011 at Earls Court, London, UK.

With the above two events taking place over the same timeframe it going to be a busy few days. For those travelling to these events from afar I feel it’s quite convenient to have these running not far from each other in London.

The final confirmed event taking place is the Transport Security Expo and Conference which will take place 13 – 14 September 2011, at Olympia, London, UK.

Keep track of our events page for further additions in 2011.

As our final post of 2010 we would like to finish by wishing all our readers a safe and secure 2011, thanks for you continued support.

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Cut-Tex® PRO Slash Resistant Windbreaker to Offer Unrivalled Cut Protection for Security Professionals

Cut-Tex® PRO, the world’s strongest cut resistant textile is now being used to manufacture slash resistant windbreaker and other cut resistant clothing for security professionals.

PPSS Group, the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO have developed cut and slash resistant windbreakers in order to improve the personal safety of security professionals and reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries.

“This incredibly lightweight and breathable fabric will now allow us to manufacture standard and bespoke slash resistant clothing, using it either as inner or outer layer”, says Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group.

Security professionals all over the world are frequently dealing with potentially hostile members of the public.

John Portis, Managing Director of New Zealand based Trojan Security said: “New laws around the world are aimed to make sure that we are left with good, trustworthy and professional security operatives. Now we have to do our part of the bargain and make sure these guys are safe while on duty, and slash resistant clothing using Cut-Tex® PRO will certainly be of great help”.

An increase in anti social behaviour and a noticeable lack of respect is making the job of true security professionals ever so difficult.

Peter Fagerlund, CEO of Seas Scandinavia in Sweden comments: “Security professionals here in Gothenburg, have been slashed and stabbed more often than ever before this year, and I genuinely believe Cut-Tex® PRO will help to save lives”.

“Cut-Tex® PRO will allow us to look into their real protective clothing need, and I can assure everyone that we will do out utmost to design exactly what it takes to make sure these professionals come home to their families at the end of the working day or night says Robert Kaiser.

We all need to learn to understand that prevention is better than cure’ and ‘better safe than sorry’ are two sayings which make more sense within personal safety than anywhere else.

Issuing cut and slash resistant clothing can mean preventing potentially fatal injuries.

For further information please contact the industry experts PPSS. Please visit www.cut-tex.com or email info@ppss-group.com or call +44 (0) 845 5193 953

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Royal College of Radiologists uses Redscan for Network Security

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has selected managed security company, Redscan (formerly Network Box UK), to provide a unified security solution which will protect the College from all online threats.

The College required a network security solution that would provide: a secure, robust firewall; web and email scanning and filtering; and the ability to establish a demilitarised zone (DMZ) for guests of the College to use. Julia Allmark, IT Manager, RCR, says: “We were particularly attracted to Redscan by the firewall management element where changes can be requested and instantly implemented without compromising security. The proactive updates and 24 hour monitoring are also of great benefit to the College as we know that whenever a problem arises, Redscan will be working on the solution.”

The unified solution provided by Redscan replaces a collection of network security solutions provided by several different companies, with different suppliers managing the ISA server, the back up of the ISA server, mail scanning and firewall management. As Julia Allmark says: “We found it very difficult to pinpoint the causes of problems as and when they occurred – which sometimes resulted in longer downtime. Now that we use Redscan to manage all of these systems, problems are resolved after one call or email.”

Managed security solutions, as provided by Redscan, are especially important for organisations like the RCR, which does not have a permanent on-site IT department, allowing any authorised member of staff to solve their network security problems by making a quick phone call to the Redscan team who will be able to solve the issue remotely.

The RCR examined all available options when it came to choosing which managed service provider to work with, and decided on Redscan because it included all of the individual elements required for extremely competitive pricing. Allmark is confident that Redscan will prove to be the best choice for the RCR’s network security: “The support engineers provide a unique level of service which is fast, efficient and friendly and has constantly been over and above the service level agreement.”

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Consumer Behaviour Shapes Security Strategies

Businesses must appreciate that sociological and behavioural changes impact network security if security management is to keep pace with new threats, according to a free guide by managed security company, Redscan.

The guide, ‘The Future of Network Security’, looks at the trends in behavioural changes that will impact security, including: virtual working and increase use of cloud-based services; the increased use of social applications at work and the massive drain they cause on corporate bandwidth; businesses trusting their corporate data to third party cloud-based services like Google Docs; and the increase in use of unified communications by companies.

It goes on to detail the main security responses that companies will have to implement to respond to these changes, including: securing data in the cloud; maintaining data protection; stronger identity management for remote worker access; securing against social applications, P2P software and VOIP; an increase use in managed security services as budgets constrict; and a re-focus on encryption technologies as privacy concerns continue to be a primary concern of Internet users.

Simon Heron, Internet Security Analyst, Redscan says: “Securing a network is as much about anticipating future needs as it is defending against current threats. Businesses need to be aware of the latest social and corporate applications available online as employees will begin to use these applications as they gain in popularity and security concerns often lag behind corporations granting employees access to these sites. The trend for virtual working and the associated use of cloud-based systems opens up a whole new set of security concerns. Businesses need a network security solution that covers all of the bases, protecting against new threats as and when they appear.”

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