HP bolsters application security suite

HP is addressing security breaches that take place through web applications

HP has announced a number of new security tools designed to lower costs and strengthen protection.

The tools form part of HP's Application Security Center software and services suite, and are designed to let firms identify and fix potential and existing problems, and uncover areas that could be exploited.

The new releases include a risk management testing platform, an inspection kit and new software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. HP said that the tools would help enterprises to focus limited security resources on the issues with the biggest potential impact.

"HP Application Security Center helps IT organisations manage the growing risk of security breaches that take place through web applications," said Jonathan Rende, vice president and general manager of business technology optimisation applications, software and solutions at HP.

"Today's application modernisation efforts are creating a better end-user experience, but may also produce web sites that are more vulnerable to hackers. "

The HP Assessment Management Platform is designed to speed up and smooth out web services and web application security testing processes. Based on a distributed environment, the platform lets various parties obtain information about application security vulnerabilities, while maintaining centralised control, according to the firm.

HP WebInspect, meanwhile, helps customers assess web applications for problems by automatically scanning, auditing and analysing the code.

The final part of the announcement is HP Project Services for Application Security Center, which the company said would give firms access to a pre-deployed application infrastructure maintained by application experts.

The SaaS option comes with supplementary security teams that can be called on during projects or peak testing periods, as well as expertise and guidance on application security. HP will also offer services such as code scanning and testing by its EDS consultancy arm.

HP WebInspect 8.0 and HP Assessment Management Platform 8.0 are available now. HP Project Services for Application Security Center is due in May.