SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExtraHop, the leader in cloud-native network detection and response, today announced a new integration between ExtraHop Reveal(x) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) via the new packet mirroring feature announced by GCP at Google NEXT 19 UK. Google Clouds new Packet Mirroring feature enables Reveal(x) to passively and agentlessly analyze network traffic within GCP to provide robust, real-time threat detection, investigation, and response. Armed with this visibility, security teams can protect data and workloads in Google Cloud and expand control across the entire hybrid attack surface.

Reveal(x) for GCP automatically discovers, classifies, and maps dependencies between workloads, and applies advanced machine learning to surface the most critical threats. Equipped with this information, GCP customers can rapidly identify, investigate, and respond to threats, fulfilling their obligations under the shared responsibility model.

"Ulta Beauty is a company built on seeing possibilities. It's informed everything from our in-store shopping experience to how we build our business including the technology that supports it," said Diane Brown, senior director of IT risk management and CISO at Ulta Beauty. "In cloud computing, we see the ability to grow faster and deliver more 'wow' experiences to our customers. The new integration between ExtraHop Reveal(x) and Google Cloud's new packet mirroring accelerates our cloud adoption by giving us the visibility we need to secure our applications and protect our most precious asset, our customers."

Through the integration with GCP packet mirroring, ExtraHop Reveal(x) provides full threat visibility, detection, and response across cloud and hybrid workloads.

"Traffic visibility is critical to prevent security breaches and attacks as networks grow in complexity," said Mahesh Narayanan, product manager at Google Cloud. With Packet Mirroring, our customers now have a way to proactively detect network intrusions, analyze, and diagnose application performance issues for both Compute Engine and Google Kubernetes Engine, across all regions and machine types."

"Traditional security tools are falling short and new thinking is needed for hybrid enterprises today," said Jesse Rothstein, CTO and co-founder at ExtraHop. Reveal(x) for GCP Packet Mirroring provides security teams with unparalleled network visibility and cloud-scale machine learning for detection and automated response across your business's complex attack surface.

ExtraHop Reveal(x) for GCP is now available in alpha. Please contact your ExtraHop cloud security expert for more information.

To learn more about the company's industry-leading cyber analytics platform, visit https://www.extrahop.com/solutions/security/ and explore the Reveal(x) live interactive online demo: https://www.extrahop.com/demo/

About ExtraHop

ExtraHop provides enterprise cyber analytics that delivers security and performance from the inside out. Our breakthrough approach analyzes all network interactions in real time and applies advanced machine learning to help you investigate threats, ensure the delivery of critical applications, and protect your investment in the cloud. With this approach, we help the world's leading enterprises including Credit Suisse, The Home Depot, Caesars Entertainment, and Liberty Global rise above the noise of alerts, organizational silos, and runaway technology with complete visibility, real-time detection, and guided investigation. To experience the power of ExtraHop, explore our interactive online demo or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

2019 ExtraHop Networks, Inc., Reveal(x), and ExtraHop are registered trademarks or marks of ExtraHop Networks, Inc.

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ExtraHop Extends Cloud-Native Network Detection and Response with Google Cloud Platform Integration - Business Wire

On October 18, 2019, the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, which is a task force within the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), held a hearing titled AI and the Evolution of Cloud Computing: Evaluating How Financial Data is Stored, Protected, and Maintained by Cloud Providers. In a memorandum published before the hearing, the FSC noted that financial institutions have adopted cloud computing for non-core purposes (e.g., human resources, customer relationship management, etc.) while exercising caution when migrating over core services and activities (e.g., payments and retail banking). However, the memorandum notes that over the next five to 10 years, the expectation is that banks will move over more core functions to the cloud. The FSC notes that AI is a component of cloud computing because it helps streamline tasks, improves how data is managed and provides real-time cyber defense.

Financial institutions that use cloud computing and cloud service providers (CSP) have legal compliance obligations when financial institutions use cloud computing to perform both non-core and core functions. For example, federal regulators require CSPs to meet the same regulatory requirements as if the financial institution performed the activities (e.g., complying with the Bank Service Company Act or the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)). As the FSC memorandum notes, examiners from the Federal Reserve recently visited a large CSP, and the CSP balked when the Federal Reserve asked the CSP to provide additional information after the on-site examination. Further, the CSP sought clarity from the Federal Reserve on how the Federal Reserve would use and store that information and who would have access to it. Therefore, the concerns over data privacy run both ways. As numerous witnesses in the hearing and members of the FSC noted, greater clarity from regulators regarding the use of CSPs by financial institutions would be beneficial. This echoed a 2018 Treasury report on Nonbank Financials, Fintech, and Innovation, which noted that [f]inancial services firms face several regulatory challenges related to the adoption of cloud, driven in large part by a regulatory regime that has yet to be sufficiently modernized to accommodate cloud and other innovative technologies.

The hearing addressed these compliance issues as well as issues related to consolidation, privacy and security. Below is a summary of the participants presentations.

The question and answer session that followed repeatedly focused on security issues posed by the use of CSPs, including whether and how CSPs can be better trained to understand the financial regulatory requirements imposed on their financial institution clients. Another concern mentioned was the difficulty associated with attribution when an error or breach occurs with a CSP (from the perspective of who may have been at fault and who actually committed the act Ms. Broussard noted that AI is useful in helping identify and protect against known vulnerabilities but that it struggles with unknown unknowns). Finally, near the end of the question and answer session, Mr. Benda noted the difficulties associated with the need to comply with both state laws which can vary, sometimes significantly, in their requirements and federal laws and requested that one harmonized approach be adopted so that banks do not have to answer to 51 masters.

This was the third hearing of the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. You can watch the full hearing here.

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Task force on artificial intelligence hearing: AI and the evolution of cloud computing - key testimony on the risks, challenges and opportunities -...

Governments and public sector organisations want to reduce delivery risks associated with contact centre services. They should consider migrating their contact centres to the cloud.

According to the NEC whitepaper,Cloud Migration and Contact Centres,there are three basic benefits to moving contact centres to the cloud: improved customer experience; managing risk and data sovereignty; and managing costs.

Elements such as omnichannel offer governments a new and improved way to interact with clients.

Donald Craven, account director for the ATO at NEC, said a contact centre is all about client interaction.This is so important for key government agencies dealing with significant numbers of public. Its all about citizenship and citizen interaction, and improving their reputation.

In the case of managing risk, there are elements unique to government that must be managed along the way. The government sets stringent mandatory requirements for cybersecurity which are making their way into the cloud. For example, data cannot be stored outside of Australia.

Chris Fryer, Enterprise Architect at NEC, said We have product-as-a-service but the product that governments need is Security-as-a-Service. This is an emerging market for government.

In normal contact centre operations, compliance issues are inevitably overseen internally. However, a cloud-based system offers a centralised platform for recording, archiving and managing calls and other data, and an easier way to stay compliant with legislation.

In the same vein, governments speak a slightly different language from private enterprise when it comes to costs. For instance, there is no revenue element to speak of.

Often, even when the concepts are the same as in the private sector, the terminology tends to be different.

Government agencies for instance tend to be less interested in revenue generation as a key element of customer experience, although on the cost side, government departments face similar challenges to the private sector.

According to Fryer, within government agencies there can be a confusion to which vendors can be used for certain services. The cyber.gov.au lists vendors that have been accredited in certain classifications.

The government needs to demonstrate that all the requirements are being met and they are getting the most cost-effective solution. Then finance will give it the go-ahead.

Craven says government needs to view cloud not as a cost-saving exercise. The argument is going to be about how theyre going to manage their costs, and the flexibility and the speed of half the things they can do.

Cloud can bring together the diverse datasets involved in each medium to provide a seamless customer experience.

Take for instance the not uncommon experience of acustomer calling an agent only for the agent to discover the customer has already tried unsuccessfully to contact the company in many different ways.

A successful omnichannel approach will pull all the strands together giving the agent a thorough history of the customer interaction.

The concept of omnichannel has been around for a decade, but companies are still struggling to deliver on this due to disparate data systems and processes. A consolidated data approach within a cloud platform enables them to deliver on their omnichannel strategy.

Demand for omnichannel exists on both sides of the transaction. Governments are endeavouring to become more citizen-centric, and citizens, in turn, expect a personalised connection with services.

And for government organisations there is also the added burden of the potential impact of bad customer experience where those poor experiences become political fodder in the media.

Jim Chryssikos is the national solutions manager at NEC. NEC is a corporate member of the Which-50 Digital Intelligence Unit. Members provide their insights and expertise for the benefit of the Which-50 community. Membership fees apply.

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How governments can use cloud computing to reduce risk and improve service delivery - Which-50

We heard from a cloud computing expert and a soon-to-be graduate on why this is an exciting field.

Cloud computing is a busy space, with new advancements and job opportunities appearing all the time as technology and innovation drive this field forward.

Already, many companies today are what Dr Fernando Perez Tellez described as native cloud companies companiesthat came to life within the cloud. But even for more traditional businesses seeking to update their digital interactions andpreservetheir competitive edge, people with cloud computing skills are becoming more in-demand than everbefore.

Thats something Perez Tellezsees reflected in salaries now,with career prospects in Ireland looking bright when it comes to cloud computing.

As a computer lecturer in the Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT), which is now part of TU Dublin, Perez Tellezis certainlyin a positionto divulge some valuable cloud computing knowledge. And, according to him, its a fascinating field to be in.

With cloud computing, he said,you can be working for any company and any type of industry, starting from the cloud provider to a company.But the choices dont end there. In fact, Perez Tellezemphasisedthatonce youre embedded in the industry, you will be able to get a job anywhere in the world.

So, what types of skills do cloud computing professionals need? As you might expect, basic knowledge of programming and automation forges a strong foundation.

But, as Perez Tellezmade clear, its really a combination of softer and technical skills thats key.In fact, the most important skills, he said, are being a problem-solver and having the motivation to learn new things.

Perez Tellezis familiar with the need to give students real-world experience when it comes to cloud computing.Embracing tools such asAWS Educate a cloud training initiative from Amazon is important so young people can have access to the real web services in the cloud, he said.

Weve used it to train students, teach them how to use the web services and, depending on their level, they can use it to develop a final-year project.

One of the main reasons for choosing theprogrammeis the prevalence of AWS tech among companies. By engaging students with it, theyre given the experience they may need to get employment in the sector after they graduate.

You can be working for any company and any type of industry, starting from the cloud provider to a company DR FERNANDO PEREZ TELLEZ

This is especially true given that many companies are not using traditional infrastructure any more many are using the more cost-effective model of going to the cloud, Perez Tellez said.

They use what they need, when they need it, and they pay only for what they use.Soits very flexible.

Describing the benefits of the AWS programme, he added: Its great for students because you can create an account without a credit card, which is very good for learning the basics and the foundations.

Lets use the example of networking we have the theory, of course, and then we prepare an online networking lab that will cover networking in the cloud. This knowledge is now transferred into the cloud technology.This way, they learn about traditional environments but they also learn other environments.

In his teaching, Perez Tellezmostly uses AWS Educate in labs for practical work because hands-on experience is the most important for students to learn.

The service aims to offer students access to self-paced content focusing on real-world applications. Modules covered in preparing for a career in cloud computing includeartificial intelligence, voice and facial recognition, gaming, medical advancements and more.

As for the types of skills Perez Tellezuses the service to teach, he said: In my work, for example, I have a module calledArchitecting on the Corporate Cloud, which I use for teaching them a specific service.

Then the different key concepts that we need to teach include how to create, how to use the best practices in cloud computing, how to create reliable, very effectiveand securesolutionsall concepts that are very important to cloud computing.

In light ofthe importance of cybersecurity for web users and organisations today, he drew particular attention to teaching his students thatits important to ensure security in every layer.

The most exciting thing about the impacts of cloud computing, according to Perez Tellez, is that people working in the field will help empower companies to focus more on idea generation and the applications of their tech, rather than the operational minutiae of their infrastructure and support systems.

Speaking to the types of jobs graduates can expect to qualify for, he said: Probably the most relevant one is solutions architect.Or IT tech solutions, creating safe and reliable solutions, which is a role in high demand at the moment.

Iwant to be a solutions architect because I like integrating loads of services together. And I want to get the chance to build and help companies with their infrastructure AMANDA DOYLE

Thats exactly what student Amanda Doyle is currently looking forward to as she moves through her final year at TU Dublin. She already has a cloud support associate position lined up toenter intoin the summer after her final exams.

Within that role, shell be supporting SMEs and enterprises with their web technologies, drawing on such technical skills as networking and navigating operating systems such as Linux.

Doyle reinforced the point that soft skills are just as integral to the role, saying: Communication skills and teamwork skills are important too.

DoyleutilisedAWS Educate torealiseher final-year project ambitions, which involved harnessing the voice control aspects of Alexa to enable companies tominimiseadministrative efforts in managing their resources.

This year Im using it more than ever for my final-year project.We use AWS Educate and, through our credits, weve been able to get to do hands-on labs. Otherwise, we wouldnt have any idea of the different services out there.

That experience with tech services is what gave Doyle an edge in her job interviews, she explained.If youre going for an interview for cloud computing, have practical hands-on experiences with some of the services.

It has also helped her to look further into her future, beyond the initial career steps that shes about to take.

In fiveyearstime,Iwant to be a solutions architect because I like integrating loads of services together. And I want to get the chance to build and help companies with their infrastructure, she said.

More here:
Why cloud computing can get you a job 'anywhere in the world' - Siliconrepublic.com

Salesforce is doubling down on its partnership with Microsoft, with which it's also sometimes been a foe.

Microsoft Azure is now the public cloud behind Salesforce's Marketing Cloud, its cloud software for marketing professionals. Salesforce also plans to build a new integration between its Sales Cloud and Service Cloud product and the Microsoft Teams work chat app, to try and make life easier for their mutual customers

"We're excited to expand our partnership with Microsoft and bring together Salesforce with Azure and Teams to deliver incredible customer experiences," Salesforce co-CEOs Marc Benioff and Keith Block said in a statement.

This is an expansion of Salesforce's existing partnership with Microsoft, which was first struck in 2014, and expanded in 2015. As part of this partnership, Salesforce has developed integrations across Microsoft apps like Skype for Business, OneNote, and Windows 10.

Notably, the two have sometimes been foes: Microsoft's Dynamics 365 product is a leading rival to Salesforce's core Sales Cloud, and the two even went head-to-head over LinkedIn, which Microsoft ultimately acquired for $26.2 billion in 2016.

Salesforce already has partnerships with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud for cloud computing services, and also hosts some of its services from its own data centers. This means that Salesforce now uses all three of the major cloud computing platforms to host some portion of its software.

Its AWS partnership began in 2016 when Salesforce chose AWS as its "preferred public cloud infrastructure provider" for its international expansion plans. As recently as 2018, Salesforce said that it "runs the vast majority of [its] public cloud workloads on AWS." Of note is that in 2016, Salesforce said that some pieces of Marketing Cloud were hosted on AWS.

Salesforce, however, said this partnership with Microsoft has no impact on its existing relationship with Amazon.

"This doesn't mean anything different for our relationship with AWS. We'll continue to partner with them and run on their public cloud to deliver global customer success," a Salesforce spokesperson told Business Insider.

Regardless, the deal looks to be a big win for Microsoft, which is generally thought to come in second to AWS for cloud computing services. Meanwhile, Microsoft's surprise win over AWS for the Pentagon's $10 billion cloud contract reinforced its status as a major cloud player.

The companies highlighted Microsoft Azure's global reach as an advantage that would help customers using Salesforce Marketing Cloud "address local data security, privacy and compliance requirements."

The new integration between Salesforce's Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, and Microsoft Teams, will allow users to search, view, and share Salesforce records directly within Teams. It will become available in late 2020, the company said.

Slack, which is seen as a competitor to Microsoft Teams, recently announced an expanded partnership with Salesforce aimed at integrating the services in a similar way.

The rest is here:
Salesforce signs a big new deal with Microsoft's cloud to power one of its core products - Business Insider