Alert Logic

Alert Logic, a provider of hosted IT network security, was founded in 2002 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Alert Logic uses a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to deliver IT network intrusion protection, vulnerability assessment and improved IT compliance for mid-sized businesses and institutions. [http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2004422,00.asp] .

Alert Logic is a privately-held corporation. In August 2006, Dallas-based Hunt Ventures LP led a $5 million round of Series B funding for Alert Logic, which included participation from three other investors: DFJ Mercury of Houston, OCA Venture Partners LLC of Chicago and Denver-based Access Venture Partners. [http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/07/24/story8.html] Alert Logic provides protection against Internet computer worms, Trojan horse (computing) programs, Botnets and other IT security threats that can make their way past firewalls. Research has shown that firewalls are not by themselves sufficient to detect or eliminate all network threats. [http://www.cert.org/incident_notes/IN-2003-01.html] .

With more than 550 customers across the U.S., Alert Logic is able to identify trends in network attacks against mid-sized organizations. In August 2006, Alert Logic's security lab detected a 1,000 percent increase in the number of Brute force attacks across its customers' networks. Targets of Brute force attacks are SSH, FTP and Windows networking among other services. [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9002162]

Alert Logic’s security solution consists of three layers: 1) a security operations center staffed on a full-time basis by certified security analysts who analyze and respond to security incidents on customer networks; 2) a hosted expert system that analyzes, correlates, and automatically mitigates IT security incidents and vulnerabilities, and 3) an on-premise appliance that monitors network traffic and continuously scans the network for threats and vulnerabilities.

In addition to protecting individual customer networks, Alert Logic also provides hosted network security for managed service providers and their customers. [http://www.crn.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192202949]

Alert Logic’s reporting capabilities provide midsized companies with improved documentation and overall IT compliance to policies and regulations. The U.S. has experienced an increase in IT network security compliance laws in recent years. Since passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and 2003, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, penalties for inadequate network security have increased. [http://www.schneier.com/essay-047.html]

References

1. Matt Hines, "eWeek" (August 2006). [http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2004422,00.asp Midmarket Could Push Adoption of Hosted Security Model.]
2. Mary Ann Azevedo, "Houston Business Journal", American City Business Journals (July 2006). [http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2006/07/24/story8.html Security technology firms lock in fresh rounds of funding.]
3. CERT (July 2003). [http://www.cert.org/incident_notes/IN-2003-01.html Malicious Code Propagation and Antivirus Software Updates.]
4. Dr. Larry Ponemon, "CSO" (Oct. 2006). [http://www.csoonline.com/features/ponemon/ponemon102306.html National Survey on the Detection and Prevention of Data Breaches.]
5. Linda Rosencrance, "Computerworld" (Aug. 2006). [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9002162 'Brute force' attacks against SMBs on the rise.]
6. Kevin McLaughlin, "CRN" (Aug. 2006). [http://www.crn.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192202949 Alert Logic Courts SMB Partners For On-Demand IPS.]
7. Bruce Schneier (July/Aug. 2004). [http://www.schneier.com/essay-047.html Security and Compliance.]

External links

[http://www.alertlogic.com Alert Logic corporate website]