Network Security

Hackvistim is not just resulting in high-profile breaches and data loss, it's also shedding light on the neglect many organizations are showing security.

A government-adopted and enforced global benchmark for network security may lend value, and borrowing from the PCI DSS playbook could help in its creation.

Sophos on Friday announced plans to acquire private network security firm Astaro for an undisclosed sum. Astaro, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany and Wilmington, Mass., is the world's fourth largest provider of unified threat management (UTM) solutions, Sophos said in a news release. Such technology offers multiple security functions, including network, web, mail and web application protection, through a single platform. Astaro's portfolio will bolster Sophos' existing endpoint, mobile, email, web and data protection capabilities, the company said.

Organizations must consider security at the network, application, host and data layers to most effectively protect against threats.

The stigma attached to the term "hacker" needs to be dropped if computer security advancements are to be made.

FireEye, maker of network security solutions, has appointed Marc Maiffret as chief security architect. Maiffret formerly served as the co-founder and CTO of eEye Digital Security. At FireEye, he will be charged with leading the development of the company╒s malware protection technology, while expanding its global security research efforts. www.fireeye.com