Level 3 Offers Managed Security Service ESG

Managed services provider Level 3 Communications has launched a cloud-based network security solution to offer anti-malware with sandboxing, data loss protection, application awareness and enforcement and next-generation firewall.

Available globally starting 30 June, ESG will allow users to move the security perimeter from their enterprise or data center to the Level 3 network, with traffic routed to one of Level 3’s globally dispersed gateways, where a collection of security services can be accessed. Also via Level 3’s customer portal, users can view their entire ESG ecosystem, enabling access to a multitude of reports and gateway performance metrics.

Speaking to Infosecurity, Level 3 regional president EMEA Andrew Crouch explained that the challenge for businesses is with keeping network-based solutions up-to-date, and ESG is about providing enterprises at the site or branch office level.

“It has next generation technology within it, and we focus on application awareness and control, as we know malware is deposited on the web so we give users the ability to look at applications and filter as necessary,” he said.

“This is about helping with a lack of skilled people, also performance and bandwidth and capital expenditure, as we offer the service to offer hardware and consistency with the CIO who is accountable for dealing with threats. This is about enforced security policy within a cloud-based environment.”

ESG uses Level 3’s network to provide carrier agnostic, network-based security protection, so that data on any device at any location through any connection or carrier can be secure. From anywhere in the world, customers can leverage Level 3’s global IP backbone capacity, more than 42 Terabits per second, and rich interconnection agreements to access security tools hosted in gateways.

Crouch said: “We use best of breed technology and develop in a service model which gives flexibility with new technology. Demand from customers drove this so we delivered this for service needs."

Frank Dickson, security analyst at Frost & Sullivan, said: “By redefining the security perimeter, customers have the ability to apply and leverage an integrated collection of security tools and professionals within the Level 3 network, removing the need for constant on-premise hardware updates while controlling IT budgets. The future is in the cloud; ESG provides a solution for enterprises to strategically leverage the cloud to simplify their security architecture while improving efficacy in the process.”

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