HCLTech and Intel Collaborate to Launch Enterprise Data Security Service

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, today launched an advanced data and cloud compute security solution to enable enterprises to securely handle sensitive information with high data integrity and confidentiality.

HCLTech DataTrustShield, was developed to protect sensitive data during cloud operations, leveraging trusted execution environments (TEEs) including Intel® Trust Domain Extensions (Intel® TDX) and Intel® Trust Authority. Key benefits include secure data sharing across platforms, scalability, enhanced compliance and robust protection for applications and intellectual property. The solution is designed for organizations requiring strong data security in collaborative and cloud environments while maintaining operational efficiency. The solution has been tested on Google Cloud and in the future, will be integrated with other hyperscalers.

"HCLTech Data TrustShield offering is a major step forward in data security, delivering high levels of protection. By harnessing Intel's advanced technology, the offering secures digital assets and enhances confidence and trust in cloud environments,” said Anand Swamy, EVP & Head of Tech and ISV Ecosystem, HCLTech.

"Intel’s Confidential Computing technology and Trust Authority attestation services enhance security and assurance for compute environments. Our collaboration with HCLTech highlights our commitment to help customers transition to the cloud while maintaining data privacy and adhering to zero trust principles,” said Purnam Sheth, VP/GM of Trust and Security Services, Intel.

HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 218,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around digital, engineering, cloud and AI, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending September 2024 totaled $13.7 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.

Google in Talks to Acquire Cloud Security Company Wiz for $23 Billion

Google's parent company, Alphabet, is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire the cloud security company Wiz for approximately $23 billion. If this deal goes through, it would be Google's largest acquisition ever.

Previously, it was reported that Alphabet was in talks to acquire HubSpot, which too was said to be Google's biggest acquisition ever, if happened. However, the deal was eventually shelved by Alphabet Inc.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Alphabet is in advanced talks to acquire Wiz for around $23 billion. While the deal isn't finalized, the WSJ says it could come together soon.

Wiz offers an all-in-one approach to cloud security, scanning data from major cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud for security risk factors. The move could strengthen Google's cloud business, which saw a 28% growth to $9.57 billion in Q1 2024. Wiz, founded by former Microsoft employees, had recently raised $1 billion in a Series E funding round at a $12 billion valuation.

Wiz provides a single cloud security command center for full control. It covers various security domains, including: Container & Kubernetes, Continuous Workload Protection (CWPP), Compliance, Vulnerability Management, Cloud Entitlements Analysis (CIEM), Misconfiguration Detection (CSPM), Sensitive Data Protection (DSPM) and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Scanning.

Wiz connects to every cloud environment (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.) and scans every layer, even elements that typically require installing agents.

Originally established in Israel and now headquartered in New York, Wiz specializes in cloud-based cybersecurity services. Its offerings include artificial intelligence-driven real-time threat detection and response systems. In 2023, Wiz generated approximately $350 million in revenue, and its clientele reportedly includes 40% of Fortune 100 companies.

Wiz recently secured $1 billion in a funding round, which brought its valuation to $12 billion. Investors included Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Thrive Capital.

Wiz's operations span across various cloud platforms, including services from Microsoft and Amazon. Its diverse customer base includes companies like Morgan Stanley and DocuSign.

This potential acquisition aligns with Alphabet's strategic moves in the tech sector, especially as regulatory scrutiny on Big Tech mergers continues under the current US administration.

Cisco Acquires Google, Microsoft-backed Isovalent Inc, An Open Source Cloud Networking Software Startup

Cisco has recently announced that it is acquiring Isovalent, a Google and Microsoft-backed technology startup founded by the creators of Cilium and eBPF. Isovalent builds open-source software and enterprise solutions solving networking, security, and observability needs for modern cloud native infrastructure.

Reports suggest that Cisco is paying around $650 million in cash for the startup, or 32 times its annual recurring revenue.

Isovalent's flagship technology Cilium is the choice of leading global organizations including Adobe, AWS, Capital One, Datadog, GitLab, Google, and many more. Isovalent is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Google, Mirae Assets and Cisco Investments, among others.

Isovalent has led the creation of the eBPF Foundation (along with founding members Meta, Netflix, Google, and Microsoft).

Post acquisition, Cisco will continue offering and building on Isovalent’s slate of innovations for customers, including Isovalent Enterprise. The Isovalent team will join the Cisco Security Business Group once the acquisition closes, which is expected in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024.

The acquisition of Isovalent will build on the Cisco Security Cloud vision, an AI-driven, cloud delivered, integrated security platform for organizations of any shape and size. The Cisco Security Cloud enables customers to abstract security controls from multicloud infrastructure to provide advanced protection against emerging threats across any cloud, application or workload.

“Together with Isovalent, Cisco will build on the open source power of Cilium to create a truly unique multicloud security and networking capability to help customers simplify and accelerate their digital transformation journeys,” said Jeetu Patel, executive vice president and general manager of Security and Collaboration at Cisco. "Imagine in today's distributed environment - of applications, virtual machines, containers and cloud assets - having security controls with total visibility, without hindering networking and application performance. The combination of Cisco and Isovalent will make this a reality.”

"Cisco is committed to nurturing, investing in, and contributing to the eBPF and Cilium open source communities,” said Stephen Augustus, Head of Open Source at Cisco. “Isovalent’s team will join Cisco's deep bench of open source governance and technical leadership to solve complex cloud native, security, and networking challenges. Their knowledge will accelerate innovation across the business and help further strengthen the Cisco Security Cloud platform to meet the growing demands of our customers.”

Cloud Security A Winning Model To Protect Businesses, Says GlobalData

In an era when enterprises always have to grapple with processing large amount of information through big data technology, security has emerged as the most important measure to accomplish their goals. Against this backdrop, software-defined networking is turning concern about security in the cloud on its head, enabling a winning model for protecting businesses, says leading data and analytics company GlobalData.

Protecting a business network has traditionally meant plugging in a bunch of different security ‘appliances’, in each business location, to protect all the many different devices and machines connected to the LAN or WAN.

However, managing the process can be a nightmare for enterprises of even a modest size, to the point where many often simply give up. The trend now is moving toward using the cloud (and software-defined networks) to deliver security protection wherever it may be needed.

John Marcus, Principal Analyst for Enterprise Cloud and Security Services at GlobalData, says: “The benefits of this security-as-a-service approach don’t just accrue to harried IT/security managers and security product vendors: network operators are set to generate huge revenues by partnering with the vendors to enable their solutions.”

For example, in August 2018, DOSarrest Internet Security selected global connectivity and communications service provider Epsilon’s Infiny on-demand connectivity platform to connect and optimize its DDoS protection, virtual firewall, and other security solutions across the globe.

Marcus adds: “For a business customer, getting something like a virtual firewall delivered on demand where needed and managed by the provider as part of the deal eliminates multiple headaches.

“For the security technology developer, using the cloud and software-defined networks eliminates go-to-market and supply chain inefficiencies, making delivering their solutions much simpler. Service management and monitoring can be included as part of the package, but huge gains from centralizing support and a vast increase in reach and scale make it worth packaging a high value solution at attractive prices.”

DOSarrest has connected to Epsilon’s network through its New York metro hub and will eventually be hooked up directly to sites including Los Angeles, London and Singapore. Instead of shipping hardware and sending engineers around the world, it now offers its DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, DOSarrest External Monitoring Service, Geo Load Balancing services and a Cyber Attack Preparation Platform using Epsilon’s network as its solution delivery platform.

But businesses and security vendors are not the only ones to gain from the cloud-enabled model. Network and cloud platform operators like Epsilon (or digitally evolving telcos like BT, Telefonica, or Verizon) stand to gain by creating a platform for technology adoption and generating revenues through their high-value host platforms.

Marcus concludes: “With such B2B partners having a single platform to procure and manage underlying connectivity, rapidly provisioning on-demand services via a web-based portal and iOS or Android mobile apps, the network or cloud service provider becomes the established home for an ecosystem of partner businesses and their customers. In this way, they turn concerns around cloud security on their head by enabling a model where everybody from consumer to provider to enabler wins.”