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Data security of the future will be easy to use

Ease of use and availability are key words in the new Elisa service environment, which offers comprehensive data security from a single point. 

“We will implement and offer data security solutions in a completely new way – utilizing local networks and business networks a little differently from our competitors. Elisa will implement a fully integrated and data-secure end-to-end ICT infrastructure as a service for the end customers’ business applications. In addition, we will provide application service producers with a data-secure platform for service maintenance,” says Kari Terho, Director of Elisa’s Network Services and Data Security.

Terho regards ease of use as the next significant advance in data security. Technically speaking, a data-secure environment that does not require users to remember a number of passwords could already be implemented.

Elisa’s Data Security Services adapt to users’ needs. In the service, Elisa is engaged in close cooperation with international data security companies. In the service concept, Elisa manages a data-secure environment that acts as a platform for different services and end users.

Centralized data security produces benefits for all
“It is impossible to fix data security at once because it requires continuous maintenance and care. Once a customer acquires data security as a service, it will be our responsibility to ensure that data security is always up-to-date. In other cases, the customer needs to do this themselves,” Terho says.

Today, companies are required to have an up-to-date data security plan and regular audits where the implementation of data security issues is secured. The centralization of data security with an operator produces benefits, because, in addition to availability, cost-efficiency will be improved and data security will always be up to date.

“Users do not need to buy separate solutions or worry about updates. We can offer centralized services where the customer does not need to manage or control the firewall. Furthermore, up-to-date data security as a service does not require expensive initial investments from customers,” Terho says.

A service that adapts to customers’ needs

Elisa’s network solutions contain a large variety of data security services, such as firewall services, VPN solutions for remote use, data security for Internet traffic, encrypted connections, virus protection and strong authentication. Once the data security environment is built in many layers, data-secure connections can, for example, be established to the business network from an Internet café without the threat of confidential material being accessed by outside parties.

“We have renewed our service so that it is comprehensive in every way. We are offering our data security services as modular and mainly centralized services that do not require hardware or license investments from our customers. Through our services, customers will receive comprehensive data security as a controlled and supervised service,” says Business Manager Markus Kuivalainen.

Elisa’s product selection also includes data security services that are required for companies that process credit card transactions by the new international PCI-DSS standard, which regulates the credit card industry. 

“The management of log data and transactions in particular, and prevention and observation solutions for attacks comprise significant parts of the standard, according to which log and transaction data must be able to be saved and monitored from a number of network components in a comprehensive way,” says Kuivalainen.

Elisa measures the services according to the customer’s environment and requirements. In centrally produced services, the capacity can be adapted quickly as the customer’s environment changes. Customers can monitor the status of their data security through the Elisa extranet service.

“Once data security becomes service-based, users do not need spend time thinking about whether their firewalls and virus protection software are up to date,” Kari Terho, Elisa’s Unit Manger, describes the new way of thinking.