IBM adds big data tools to security platform

IBM unveiled a real-time network monitoring and threat detection platform that combines tools from its security and big data offerings.

IBM claimed its Security Intelligence with Big Data system will be able to monitor unstructured data to detect possible threats and malicious activity alongside conventional security protections.

The platform will combine IBM's logging and DNS tools with other security components and an unstructured data analysis system which will be tasked with analysing data packets, social networking traffic and other data sources.

In addition to threat detection, the system will provide analysis and insight on network security and infrastructure through the use of reporting and visualisation tools, IBM claimed.

"Leveraging unique assets, IBM is on a relentless push to expand the capabilities of our security intelligence capabilities," said Brendan Hannigan, general manager of IBM’s Security Systems Division.

"IBM QRadar Security Intelligence Platform combined with IBM InfoSphere BigInsights, uniquely delivers essential insights exploiting massive volumes and types of historical and real-time data from new and existing sources."

The company said that the big data and security platform would be available to enterprise customers immediately.

The platform is the latest in a push by IBM to integrate big data analytics into its enterprise offerings. The campaign, headlined by the introduction of the Watson compute cluster, has also included academic and scientific research efforts.

Plagued by rising malware levels and advanced persistent threats, security vendors have increasingly sought to integrate data analysis into their platforms and services. Earlier this week Cisco made such an effort when it agreed to purchase Cognitive Security.