Vistorm Launches Automated Vulnerability Assessment Service Using QualysGuard™

— December 5, 2001 — Vistorm, provider of Managed Internet Services, today launched its new vulnerability assessment service based on Qualys’s flagship solution QualysGuard. Vistorm will provide its customers with access to an online vulnerability portal, to enable customers to evaluate the security of their networks by performing security audits that identify, analyse and report on network security threats.

With four new network vulnerabilities identified every day, firewalls and infrequent penetration tests are not enough in preventing exploits on organizations’ networks. Companies hit by the recent Code Red and NIMDA viruses could have been more effectively protected through vulnerability assessments. Security vendors had issued patches up to six weeks earlier that could have been deployed as a result of rigorous and ongoing deployment of vulnerability assessment.

“With the increasing sophistication of attack more organisations are identifying the need to assess their networks for potential external attacks,” said Angela Henderson, business development director at Vistorm. “Vulnerability assessment provides a real-time layer of security to deter the threat of cyber-attack on an organization’s network. As a recent Gartner study* indicates, many more organizations are looking to improve their enterprise security and real-time incident response capability with the deployment of managed intrusion detection and vulnerability assessment services.”

Ricardo Lavie-Peretz, VP and General Manager Europe, Qualys commented: “Companies need to view vulnerability in the same light as virus scanning. With penetration tests occurring on a six-month basis companies are exposing themselves to over 600 potential threats in this period of time. Organisations need to realise that frequent vulnerability scanning can decrease the likelihood of attacks and provide an added layer of protection. By focusing on networks from a ‘hacker’s-eye view’ perspective, Qualys identifies real-world weaknesses that would elude traditional security solutions.”

Vistorm is offering a twelve-month subscription based vulnerability assessment service that provides companies with the power to reveal vulnerabilities on networks and ensure these exploits are dealt with immediately. QualysGuard^TM scans and audits more than 300 different applications on 20 different platforms and operating systems, providing a knowledge that is constantly updated.

Adil Pastakia managing director, Qualys commented: “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Vistorm as they provide an extremely sharp focus in the security industry. By basing their new vulnerability assessment service on QualysGuard^TM, we are able to leverage both our technical skills and Vistorm’s security expertise and customer focused services to provide customers with highly secure networks.”

Henderson concludes: “Our partnership with Qualys strengthens Vistorm’s portfolio of network security services and solutions with a robust vulnerability assessment service. Any security technology needs to be deployed in a cohesive security solution, which is monitored and managed 24/7 by experienced and qualified security specialists to ensure effective, real-time security management. It is this monitoring, management and incident response expertise that Vistorm is able to provide on behalf of our managed security customers in 56 countries worldwide.”

The vulnerability service not only complements Vistorm’s other services, but it is also a quality assurance measure to ensure Vistorm is meeting the service expectations it agrees with its customers. Henderson explains: “Those customers who have a Vistorm managed firewall and subscribe to the vulnerability service are able to test the service we provide to ensure the firewall will defend against attacks. It is a third party viewpoint to ensure we are providing the highest service we possibly can to protect our customers’ networks.”

Vistorm’s Vulnerability Assessment service is available now.

About Qualys

With more than 2,000 subscribers ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations, Qualys has become the leader in on demand vulnerability management and policy compliance. The company allows security managers to strengthen the security of their networks effectively, conduct automated security audits and ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations. Qualys’ on demand technology offers customers significant economic advantages, requiring no capital outlay or infrastructure to deploy and manage. Its distributed scanning capabilities and unprecedented scalability make it ideal for large, distributed organisations. Hundreds of large companies have deployed Qualys on a global scale, including AXA, DuPont, Hershey Foods, ICI Ltd, Novartis, Sodexho, Standard Chartered Bank and many others. Qualys is headquartered in Redwood City, California, with European offices in France, Germany and the U.K., and Asian representatives in Japan, Singapore, Australia, Korea and the Republic of China. For more information, please visit www.qualys.com.

About Vistorm

Vistorm is a leading provider of Internet security and application services. Vistorm’s managed Internet security services include a comprehensive range of network perimeter, content and application security services and solutions. These provide effective 24x7 protection to organisations in need of a secure Internet infrastructure for e-business and VPN-based remote connectivity solutions.

These services deliver specialist consulting and technical expertise, best-of-breed security technologies and constant monitoring, management and incident response from our secure global network operations centre, to our clients network security infrastructures in 56 countries worldwide.

As one of the largest integrators of server-based computing solutions in Europe, Vistorm integrates enterprise-wide software applications that can be accessed from a centralised or remote location. This satisfies user demand for application usability, reliability and access, and reduces overall computing costs. The company has developed a rich set of software tools to enhance the performance, effectiveness and security of server based computing solutions including AppSense [www.appsense.net] that provides application access management at the desktop.

Vistorm provides services in conjunction with world leading technology companies including, Check Point Software Technologies, Microsoft, Citrix Systems Inc, Compaq, Nokia, and WorldCom. The company delivers solutions and services to customers in over 50 countries worldwide from its HQ in the UK. For more information visit www.vistorm.com.

Qualys, the Qualys logo and QualysGuard are proprietary trademarks of Qualys, Inc. All other products or names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

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