Verizon Launches New Security Suite to Protect the Internet of Things

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of Internet-connected automobiles, smart meters and home-monitoring systems has increased dramatically, yet cybersecurity services to safeguard them are proving to be inadequate. To address this emerging technology risk, Verizon Enterprise Solutions has launched Managed Certificate Services, a next-generation, cloud-based platform.

Offering a first line of defense, Verizon's new Managed Certificate Services (MCS) platform is specifically designed to authenticate objects and machines -- verifying object and machine "identities" -- and securing data transmitted between these connections. It is available immediately in the U.S. and Europe, with a December rollout planned for the Asia-Pacific region.

Verizon's new class of cloud-based certificates provides strong security while eliminating the need for expensive hardware and complex implementations that were once the hallmark of public key infrastructure (PKI)-based solutions. Verizon MCS offers a fully managed environment that allows clients to remain focused on their core business without the complexity and cost of managing and monitoring their certificate infrastructure.  

In addition, the new services employ a pay-as-you-go model so that organizations only pay for resources they need when they need them.  

"With the continued explosion of the Internet of Things and the expansion of connected objects and machines, businesses require a simple, scalable and effective way to manage identity and data integrity," said Eddie Schwartz, vice president of global security solutions for Verizon Enterprise Solutions. "Verizon's Managed Certificate Services build upon our solid digital certificate technology and managed security services expertise with a cloud-based platform to deliver an ideal offering for the age of connected solutions."

Verizon's new offerings are highly scalable and can simultaneously verify billions of devices, applications and machines. The solutions offer easy integration with existing client networks and applications through a range of flexible application programming interfaces and provide administrators access to a Web-based portal for ease of use. 

Verizon's Next-Gen MCS Portfolio Suitable for a Range of Uses

Verizon's next-generation MCS portfolio is applicable for a wide range of uses. They include authenticating and verifying applications; services and enterprise infrastructures such as online shopping cart applications; and e-government service delivery such as license plate renewals and passport services requiring sophisticated identity-proofing capabilities.  

Verizon's next-generation MCS platform also can help enterprises to address new regulatory guidelines aimed at protecting device-to-machine and machine-to-machine connections now found in automobiles, smart meters and home-monitoring systems. 

For example, new compliance guidelines call for smart meters to be secure. One way to do so is to provide certificates during device production or client-site installation. This way, devices can be authenticated when "talking" to each other while also maintaining a secure connection for the traffic to traverse. Devices not configured with a certificate would not be able to penetrate or "attach" to the network, helping to protect the energy grid from harm.

Verizon Offers Comprehensive Security Solutions to Safeguard Enterprises

Verizon offers a full continuum of managed security solutions including advanced security analytics and intelligence; distributed denial of service defense; investigative response; governance, risk and compliance solutions; identity and access management solutions; and vulnerability management services -- delivered in the cloud or on premises in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit us at http://www.verizonenterprise.com/solutions/security/. 

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 101 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 178,300.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

Verizon Enterprise Solutions Online News Center: News releases, blog posts, media contacts and other information are available in Verizon Enterprise Solutions' online News Center at http://www.verizonenterprise.com/about/news. News from Verizon Enterprise Solutions is also available through an RSS feed at http://www.verizonenterprise.com/rss-options/.

SOURCE Verizon