IBM kicks off Institute for Advanced Security in Asia-Pacific

Institute to foster collaboration to combat growing security threats in region.

IBM on Wednesday announced the launch of the IBM Institute for Advanced Security in Asia-Pacific, an expansion of its company-wide initiative to provide governments, businesses and other key organisations with a forum to collaborate with IBM’s global network of security research, services, software and technology experts.

Issued on Wednesday, The IBM X-Force 2011 Mid-Year Trend and Risk Report states that the top countries originating spam have shifted to Asia Pacific, with India sending out roughly 10 percent of all spam registered Wednesday, and South Korea and Indonesia also making the top five list. 

The IBM Institute for Advanced Security in the Asia-Pacific region is designed to help drive innovation in next generation security models and solutions, securing cyberspace by: 

Connecting organizations with IBM Security research efforts including the IBM X-Force team as well as broader IBM services, software and technology experts; and 

Providing resources including collaboration and technology insights through expert blogs, X-Force expertise, white papers, podcasts and online sessions that address rising security issues around cyber security, data analytics, cloud and mobile computing. 

The Institute will connect organisations to recent IBM Research advances and wider expertise-- such as the ability to analyse encrypted information without sacrificing confidentiality. In this way they can more intelligently protect the privacy and security of critical information. The Institute will address specific issues such as mobile device security, deep analytics and emergency response. 

The Asia-Pacific chapter of the Institute is headquartered in Australia's Gold Coast along with the IBM Australian Development Lab. Its team is spread across the region with professionals from the Institute based in Singapore (who will also work with clients in China, Korea and the ASEAN countries), India and Japan. This enables the Institute to have a pan Asia-Pacific view of the information security implications across this diverse region, while simultaneously sharing knowledge and best practices across countries. 

The Institute for Advanced Security in Asia-Pacific will offer briefings and demonstrations at a number of IBM Research and Development Labs throughout the region, including Australia, Singapore and India. according to an IBM report. 

“It’s encouraging to see companies investing in practical measures to reduce threats to their security,” said Nigel Phair, director of the Centre for Internet Safety, University of Canberra. “Organisations are often unable to address security strictly on their own. They must find new ways to collaborate—sharing information, best practices, and even security technologies to mitigate security threats as much as possible. The new Institute will help drive even greater collaboration around today’s security landscape."

“As the planet becomes smarter, the need for smarter security grows in proportion," said Glen Gooding, Director of the IBM Institute for Advanced Security in Asia-Pacific. "The security complexities of our Asia-Pacific clients represent to a significant extent those of the world as a whole. Getting best results from a global infrastructure, while also minimising security risks will require more expertise than any single solution provider or organisation can offer. As new architectures and technologies are developed, deployed, and connected, this will imply an even greater need for a new, more collaborative approach to security.” 

To help clients understand the complex issues associated with addressing their security challenges, IBM will apply the capabilities and experience of its 15,000 multi-disciplinary security experts worldwide. With more than 3,000 security and risk management patents, and one of the world’s largest comprehensive threats and vulnerabilities databases, IBM is well positioned to help global organisations mitigate their security concerns. 

With more than 50 years of security development and innovation, IBM possesses an unparalleled breadth and depth of research, products, services, consulting and global business partners to deliver end-to-end security. IBM has nine worldwide research labs developing innovative security technology, nine security operations centres and three Institute for Advanced Security branches worldwide.