When it comes to computer security, one size clearly doesn’t fit all. In storage, for instance, there have long been specialized tools to backup virtual systems.
The same is increasingly true for security. Case in point, I was recently briefed by AFORE Solutions in preparation for its announcement of the CypherX Advanced Cybersecurity Solution, which is designed specifically to protect VDI and apps that are hosted in the cloud.
The Ottawa-based company was already focused on cybersecurity for virtualized cloud environments; whether public, private or hybrid, it really doesn’t matter. And let’s face it, nearly all these cloud environments run on virtual infrastructure.
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The company, and the space it serves, are both picking up steam. Now standing at some 50 employees, AFORE recently snagged a $6 million investment to help see its plans through.
A big aim of CypherX is to let companies facing compliance issues meet those regulations as they can prove that their cloud and virtual infrastructure is just as safe as the older technologies they replace.
Jonathan Reeves, chairman and chief strategy officer, drove the AFORE briefing. Reeves is no slouch. He started no less than three companies focused on networking, including Mangrove Systems, Sahara Networks (which was bought by Cascade/Ascend), and Sirocco Systems (which was snatched up by Sycamore).
“Recent national security events, increased use of BYOD and compliance concerns such as new HIPAA regulations, are combining to significantly elevate the issues of cyber threats and data security,” Reeves remarked. “CypherX enables organizations to leverage cloud platforms and hosted desktop virtualization services with complete confidence that their data will remain secure and inaccessible to unauthorized users or administrators. This is vital to ensuring full compliance with HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX and other domestic and international regulations.”
The company believes that more virtual apps would be rolled out if IT and service providers could totally trust them. “In the presence of advanced and ever-evolving threats, perimeter security is simply no longer adequate for today’s virtual world. Enterprises require security policies and encryption technologies that ensure sensitive data are protected anywhere, anytime without relying on end user action. CypherX seamlessly and efficiently places applications in secure virtual containers, encrypting and managing access to all data, protecting sensitive information from cyber attackers, malicious insiders and cloud administrators,” the company explained.
AFORE Not Alone
In the VDI space, other tools already exist, such as from Trend Micro that work with agents or in agentless mode.
SafeNet is another vendor targeting an aspect of this market with a secure access two-factor authentication tool.
Edited by
Alisen Downey
