Roundup: Dell, SecureWorks, Cisco

Here’s a roundup of this week’s headlines from the data center and hosting industry:

Dell to acquire SecureWorks.  Dell announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Atlanta based SecureWorks, a globally recognized provider of information security services.  With over 2,900 clients worldwide SecureWorks protects information assets and improves compliance through a purpose-built security management platform.  With this acquisition Dell continues their portfolio building and expands their reach as a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP).  SecureWorks provided their services to more than 15 percent of the Fortune 500 and was named a leader in the Gartner magic quadrant for MSSPs last year.

Cisco evolves Catalyst family. Cisco (CSCO) introduced the Cisco Catalyst 3560-C and Catalyst 2960-C compact series switches, expanding the Borderless Networks portfolio's ability to deliver highly secure, cost-effective network connectivity and power outside the wiring closet. The two additions to the Catalyst family contain the same functionality and operating system as the 3560-X and 2960-S series at size roughly half that of an Xbox console.  Intended environments for these switches include retail, education, health care, hospitality/entertainment, or offices.  With pass-through PoE technology the switches are quiet and eliminate the need for power outlets and can dramatically reduce cabling costs.  "Today's organizations are packing more networked devices into more challenging environments; from hospitality to health care, new business needs are driving new requirements for the access network. The C-Series Switches are powerful compact managed switches that provide all the Borderless Networks capabilities and benefits found in Cisco's enterprise-class Catalyst 2960 and 3560 Series Switches.," said Rob Soderbery, senior vice president and general manager, Ethernet Switching Technology Group, at Cisco.

Cisco issues PCI compiance survey findings. Cisco (CSCO) unveiled the results of a survey conducted by InsightExpress of 500 information technology decision makers to uncover and quality current sentiment on PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) five years after the standard emerged. The intentions of the survey were to gauge adoption and chronicle and understand the costs and challenges associated with compliance, and measure the adoption of certain technologies to better understand the approaches that organizations are taking to meet the requirements.  Key findings illustrated respondents finding PCI very beneficial, with 70 percent saying that they feel their organization is more secure than it would be if PCI compliance were not required.  Government respondents fared better than all other sectors analyzed, with 85 percent passing their initial assessment. Health care organizations unfortunately fared the worst, with a 72 percent pass rate at the time of assessment. "These results are to be expected given the rising awareness and costs associated with data breaches and identity theft. PCI has helped, especially where competition for budget dollars is high, and the need to protect customers are equally important," said John N Stewart, vice president and chief security officer at Cisco. A 28 page presentation provides the detailed results of the PCI study.