Fran Foo | July 24, 2008
SMALLER businesses in Australia will soon be able to replicate the expensive and highly secure IT security infrastructure used by resources giant BHP Billiton without the vast capital outlay.
The new service, dubbed Threat Manager, offered by troubled listed digital group BlueFreeway, via its subsidiary BlueCentral, will also help ensure businesses are compliant with the payment card industry's data security standard (PCI DSS) for credit card usage.
After taking a beating on the stock exchange, BlueFreeway hopes to revive its fortunes with the solution, squarely aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
BlueCentral's offering will use the "software-as-a-service" model, which gives companies the ability to use business-grade software without purchasing the product outright. Instead, the applications, such as accounting software, are paid for through a set monthly fee.
The security service would provide intrusion detection, vulnerability assessment, compliance automation and 24-hour monitoring of hackers, BlueCentral Security general manager Manjula Kularathne said.
Mr Kularathne said the solution was aimed at SMEs that have an online business component but do not have proper security systems or an IT department.
He said it was an affordable way for these companies to secure their computer networks.
"This is an enterprise-class threat management solution ... SMEs are hard-pressed to invest in resources to protect themselves with 24/7 human monitoring for security systems."
Fees started at around $725 monthly as opposed to the $300,000 it would cost businesses for a similar set-up, he said.
BlueCentral has partnered with US-based AlertLogic, a BHP Billiton IT security supplier, to launch the service locally, Mr Kularathne said.
The first level of security monitoring is done by AlertLogic, followed by BlueCentral's certified engineers in Australia.
BlueCentral, primarily a web hosting concern, has about 10,000 customers of varying sizes.
Meanwhile, merchants that store credit card information would have to complete up to 223 questions every quarter to adhere to PCI DSS guidelines.
Otherwise, they could be fined between $5000 and $75,000 per month by credit card companies in Australia.
"With our solution, we can ensure that customers are compliant," Mr Kularathne said.