Data Security | News

Higher Ed Compact Adds Security Products to Buying Mix

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 11/16/11

A state compact for higher education has added two security systems to its purchase program. The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) recently added applications from both eIQnetworks and Novell after putting out a request for proposal specifically to address the security information and event management (SIEM) needs of colleges and universities in its 12 states.

The basic specs required solutions that could provide log analysis, event pattern detection, and customizable alarm and reporting options. The solutions needed to be available as on-premises products and subscription-based services. The contracts are in effect at least until 2014.

eIQnetworks' SecureVue is a situational awareness platform that provides users with visibility across all enterprise security information. The program provides functionality for performing:

• Log management;
• Automating compliance;
• Configuring assessment and auditing;
• Performing asset inventory;
• Doing performance and availability monitoring;
• Running network behavioral analysis; and
• Monitoring native file integrity.

"eIQ not only brings the next generation security information and event management (SIEM) solution to MHEC's contract portfolio, but a much broader product offering that provides situational awareness, taking system data collection from a forensic analysis tool right through tactical response to strategic IT planning," said John Dunning, CIO of Wayne State College and chair of the MHEC Technologies Committee. "In today's era of compliance demands and shrinking budgets, this partnership with eIQ presents awonderful value proposition for institutions and other eligible entities to purchase through MHEC contracts."

The organization also added Novell's Compliance Management Platform, which includes a number of security products, including Novell Sentinel for security and event monitoring; and Identity Manager for user provisioning, password management, and access control. In April 2011 Novell was acquired by NetIQ, which now owns and operates the Compliance Management Platform as well as the Sentinel and Identity Manager product lines.