Runs secure messaging and payment platform on Amazon Web Services
London, 22 July 2014 – London-based SMS messaging and mobile payment billing company Fonix Mobile has chosen Alert Logic Threat Manager with ActiveWatch for managed cloud-based intrusion detection and vulnerability scanning to secure its applications and data running on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Alert Logic’s Security-as-a-Service continuously monitors Fonix Mobile’s cloud environment in order to identify, evaluate and mitigate security threats and attackers that may be targeting their web applications. In order to maximise flexibility, efficiency and capacity, Fonix operates its messaging and mobile billing platform in the AWS cloud, enabling Fonix to easily expand its IT infrastructure at any time. But while AWS offers a highly secure infrastructure, Fonix was tasked with securing its own applications and data.
The cloud, like any other IT environment, is an attractive target for hackers; and with Fonix’s systems managing SMS messages and subscriber information, keeping data safe from attackers is critical for the success of its business. “In addition to general concerns about data privacy, the big question we had to answer about AWS was whether it was feasible to run our platform in the cloud securely,” said Marcus Kern, CTO of Fonix Interactive. “We very quickly figured out that the answer was a definite “yes”; and even more so with the addition of a security partner like Alert Logic. Alert Logic Threat Manager has the intrusion detection capabilities we need and is definitely the most cloud-friendly option we’ve come across.”
With no hardware to install and GIAC-certified security staff working 24×7 in the Alert Logic Security Operations Centre (SOC), Alert Logic provides Fonix a solution that integrates seamlessly with AWS while also giving the Fonix team the flexibility to control how much, or how little, hands-on involvement it has with the security management. “Our initial approach was to hire a company to monitor network traffic, but this quickly proved expensive and limited,” Kern continued. “It also left too much of the security management in our hands, as my team was expected to know how to correlate, analyse and remediate vulnerabilities that were detected. What we really needed was an intrusion detection solution that was cloud based, could be operated in house if need be and could also be delivered as a managed service. This is exactly what Alert Logic gives us. We conducted an extensive evaluation of 3 vendor technologies available on AWS Marketplace and Alert Logic, developed as a native cloud solution and backed up by people expertise, came out as the best solution to meet our needs.”
“We’re delighted that Fonix selected Alert Logic to secure their SMS and Billing applications on AWS,” said David Howorth, Vice President, EMEA at Alert Logic. “Fonix is developing high-calibre messaging technology and we’re looking forward to working with them to keep their applications and data secure.” “Alert Logic provides the perfect mix of artificial intelligence from their product suite and human intelligence from their security operations centre to provide us with fast remediation actions to keep us secure and compliant,” Kern concluded.