HP revamps security teams for faster threat response

HP has established a team of security researchers in order to bolster its efforts to provide firms with more robust defences against increasingly pernicious external threats.

The HP Security Research (HPSR) team will oversee HP's DVLabs, Zero Day Intiative, and HP Fortify Software Security Research groups. According to HP, the new structure will provide end users with a better link between new threat discoveries and defensive capabilities.

"As mobile, web and cloud technologies advance, the attack surface is expanding and systems are increasingly interconnected, making it even more important for organisations to take a holistic approach when it comes to security," HP chief technology officer of enterprise security products, Jacob West, told V3.

"HP advocates an approach that starts with a single, comprehensive view of risk across the extended enterprise, driven by enterprise priorities and goals, and using intelligent security capabilities to reduce risk."

HPSR will work with other HP security research groups to attempt to deliver improved threat information.

The group will work with HP's DVLabs to discover and analysis potential vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, HP Fortify Software Security to build out security tools and the Zero Day Initiative to focus on breaches in software that can lead to attacks.

As part of the initiative, HPSR will use HP's Reputation Security Monitor (RepSM) to utilise data gathered from the groups in an attempt to prevent potential spear phishing and spam issues.

Spear phishing attacks have made headlines in recent months, with security firm Mandiant reporting last week that Chinese Military had been responsible for an extensive spear phishing attacks on more than 140 Western companies.

Along with the announcement of the HPSR, HP has also recently unveiled a security report which highlights the cyber threats of last year. The report found that the number of disclosed vulnerabilities was up 19 percent from 2011 to 2012.