ESET Foundation to Support Securing Our eCity® Initiative and Drive Awareness and Education for Cyber and Societal Challenges

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San Diego, CA, March 14, 2012

ESET Foundation to Support Securing Our eCity® Initiative and Drive Awareness and Education for Cyber and Societal Challenges

ESET today announced that it has established the ESET Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. ESET has established the ESET Foundation to further support its Securing Our eCity initiative and commitment to community collaboration to support cybersecurity awareness, education and societal challenges within the San Diego community and across the nation.

“The ESET Foundation is strongly committed to providing support to the greater San Diego area and to computer users across the world,” said Anton Zajac, president of ESET North America and ESET Foundation president. “We believe that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and are working to arm computer users with the tools and knowledge necessary to become safer in cyber space. We are honored by the support that the community and nation have given to Securing Our eCity and are thrilled to have such prominent representatives from industry and community on our board of directors for the foundation.” 

In mid-2008, Securing Our eCity was established and a movement to educate San Diego’s digital citizens was born. Securing Our eCity provides awareness of potential issues and offers free cybersecurity information and education that assists businesses, families, youths and seniors to better prepare for a safer cyber experience in rapidly changing technology driven environments.

“With cybersecurity being a critical issue, programs like Securing Our eCity are crucial in providing the necessary resources related to education to help keep businesses and consumers safe in cyber space,” said Jessie J. Knight Jr., chairman and CEO of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and ESET Foundation chairperson. “At SDG&E, we are committed to protecting our critical infrastructure and working with the community to create a new generation of cyber-savvy citizens. I look forward to working with the ESET Foundation to continue to bring cybersecurity awareness, education and preparation to the residents of San Diego.”

This past year, Securing Our eCity worked with organizations like the San Diego Police Foundation, Girl Scouts USA, The Boy Scouts of America and others to bring cybersecurity awareness and education to the San Diego community. Additionally, Securing Our eCity expanded nationally by aligning with other various cyber initiatives across the nation including: Cyber City USA in San Antonio, TX, WC4 in Washtenaw County, MI, and Cyber Maryland to advance cybersecurity awareness, education and preparation through community driven programs. Furthermore, Securing Our eCity’s 2011 fall symposium and awards ceremony was attended by more than 350 security professionals, business executives and managers, IT consultants, government and law enforcement officials.

“Securing Our eCity has done a tremendous job of working to make San Diego a place where people can build a better cybersecurity environment through community engagement,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance and ESET Foundation board member. “We are excited that the National Cyber Security Alliance has been a part of Securing Our eCity from the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to support the program, both in San Diego and across the nation.”

ESET Foundation board members and officers include, Jessie J. Knight Jr., chairperson, Anton Zajac, president, Randy Frisch, treasurer and Pamela Richardson, secretary. Additional board members include, Andrew Lee, CEO of ESET North America, Darin Andersen, general manager North America for Norman Defense Systems, Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance, Liz Fraumann, director of cybersecurity awareness and education at ESET North America, as well as other members of the San Diego community.

For additional information about Securing Our eCity, upcoming events and ways to get involved, please visit, http://www.securingourecity.com/.

About The ESET Foundation

Founded in late 2011, the ESET Foundation’s mission is to foster community collaboration to create educational awareness for cyber and societal challenges. Headquarted in San Diego, the ESET Foundation’s signature program is the award-winning Securing Our eCity®, recognized in 2010 by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the best local and community program. The ESET Foundation brings together like-minded organizations whose primary goal is to encourage cybersecurity for business, families, youth and seniors. For more information visit www.esetfoundation.org or, please email Steve.Kovsky@esetfoundation.org

 

About Securing Our eCity

Securing Our eCity (SOeC) is an initiative created and led by ESET North America, a San Diego based software security company. SOeC is focused on fostering public/private partnerships at local, state, national and international levels while helping counter cyber threats and creating more cyber secure communities across the globe. Stakeholders from coast to coast including consumer advocates, business owners, and governmental agencies (law enforcement and legislative bodies) have come together to raise awareness, education and help individuals and businesses prepare for cyber security challenges now and in the future. The founding stakeholders include ESET North America, San Diego Business Journal, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, UCSD and SDSU. To learn more, visit: www.securingourecity.org

For the latest cyber threat and education information, follow Securing Our eCity on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook or follow our blog at http://www.securingourecity.org/blog.

News Release from IBM

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IBM Unveils New Solutions to Help Make Smarter Computing Real for x86 Users

Expanding analytics and cloud capabilities across the IBM System x product line

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ARMONK, N.Y. - 06 Mar 2012: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new server solutions designed to expand cloud and analytics capabilities across its entire portfolio, helping make Smarter Computing a reality for x86 clients.

The new offerings include high-performance systems, networking and software products aimed at helping clients optimize data center operations with flexible, easy-to-deploy solutions to help reduce complexity, lower costs and deliver rapid return on investments.

Today, clients are looking for solutions that help them handle specific business challenges and make better use of existing IT infrastructures.  More and more clients are turning to cloud computing, analytics and other smarter computing solutions to help their businesses grow.  Cloud computing deployments are expected to grow more than 19% per year, according to IDC (1), and a recent IBM CIO study (2) showed cloud implementations nearly doubling from 33% to 60% over the last two years.

"From the design of the servers, software and services, IBM solutions are created to help accelerate the journey to Smarter Computing," said Adalio Sanchez, general manager, IBM System x business. "IBM is delivering easy-to-deploy cloud and analytics products to help clients align their businesses to manage unprecedented amounts of data, and become much more efficient at turning that information into timely business insights."

Among the solutions introduced is a new version of IBM's BladeCenter Foundation for Cloud (BCFC), an integrated virtualization platform with built-in system management and preconfigured with servers, storage, and networking. BladeCenter Foundation for Cloud is now powered by the new generation of IBM BladeCenter HS23 systems that offer 62% more compute power, and comes integrated with the new 10GbE Virtual Fabric technology that enables clients to run 20% more virtual machines, creating an optimal environment for building and deploying advanced cloud applications. 

The increased bandwidth and up to four times more memory allows the HS23 to support faster data transfers that are essential to virtualized cloud and analytic workloads.  In addition, IBM FastSetup for BladeCenter, a cost and time-saving console application can help clients reduce from days to hours the time it takes to complete large deployments.  

Bytemobile and German Leibniz Supercomputer Center Bet on IBM Cloud and AnalyticsCalifornia-based Bytemobile (http://bit.ly/wwxyCC) and Germany's Leibniz Supercomputing Center in Munich are among the first customers to purchase IBM next generation x86 systems.  Santa Clara-based Bytemobile, a leading global provider of mobile Internet solutions for global wireless network operators, is using IBM BladeCenter HS23 servers as the foundation for its cloud computing implementation. 

"With the new performance capabilities of the BladeCenter HS23 combined with our software, we are able to achieve two-and-a-half times the performance over our previous infrastructure," said Chris Koopmans, chief operating officer, Bytemobile.  "The IBM solution allows us to process large amounts of network data more quickly and easily.  Given the way that video traffic is exploding on mobile networks around the world, this is crucial in being able to provide customers an optimal, seamless end-user experience."

The Leibniz Supercomputing center provides supercomputing services to scientists in Munich, Bavaria, Germany and other parts of Europe.  It is in the process of installing a new high-end supercomputer based on IBM System x iDataPlex technology, which will help scientists solve a broad range of challenging scientific problems.

"Our new iDataPlex-powered SuperMUC system will help enable the scientific community to test theories, design experiments and predict outcomes as never before," said Professor Dr. Arndt Bode, director of the LRZ supercomputing center.  "In addition, the new SuperMUC system will be able to provide previously unattainable energy efficiency along with sustained performance."

IBM SmartCloud Solutions for Mid-sized Business ClientsIBM also introduced new and affordable SmartCloud solutions powered by its latest IBM System x 3650 M4 server, the most expandable, upgradeable system of its kind.  The x3650 M4 demonstrated excellent performance on industry-standard benchmarks. It achieved a leadership two-processor score for SPECvirt_sc2010 benchmark (3), set a new record for two-processor server performance on TPC-E (4), more than 45% faster than the previous-generation result achieved by the HP ProLiant DL380 G7 server (5), and a leadership two-processor result on Windows on two-tier SAP SD standard application benchmark. (6)

The System x 3650 M4 also comes with IBM eXFlash solid-state storage technology, bringing exclusive IBM enterprise-class storage capability to a two-socket rack server. The SSD technology enables 30 times more performance and a 90% increase in performance per watt for consolidating collaboration and database workloads.  In addition, the new x3650 M4 system supports the IBM Smarter Analytics portfolio of offerings, a set of compact, integrated, single-analytics offerings supported by storage-dense System x two-socket systems running IBM InfoSphere Data Warehouse and Cognos business intelligence and performance management software.

IBM's new portfolio of x86 computing solutions also include:

• The IBM System x iDataPlex dx360 M4, which offers significant flexibility for supporting a wide range of high-performance computing workloads.  The system is designed for datacenters requiring high performance with limited floor space, and power and cooling infrastructure.  Available with specially designed exclusive IBM warm water-cooled technology, this iDataPlex system is up to 40 percent more energy efficient than air-cooled systems, recovering 90 percent of heat per nodes.
• The IBM System x 3550 M4, a dense, feature-rich 1U server designed for data and business critical workloads, and the IBM System x3500 M4 tower that provides data center performance in a desktop package.  The x3550 delivers four times more memory, more virtual machines, and improved networking performance in less space at a comparable price.  The x3500 also offers four times the memory, plus 33% more storage capacity than prior generations. It is designed for quiet operation and fits easily under a desk or rack, making it ideal for office environments.
• IBM Feature on Demand across the IBM System x product line. Feature on Demand allows clients to activate or unlock features in the firmware or software on demand, providing customers the ability to grow their systems as they grow their businesses without the need for costly rip and replace.

New Business Partner Incentives to Sell Client SolutionsThe IBM Solution Accelerator incentive is a new channel initiative to sell combined software and systems, and business solutions. It has two elements. First is a Software and Systems reward that amounts to a 5% incremental rebate for selling eligible IBM systems and a 15% percent incremental rebate for selling eligible software together to a single client. Secondly, a Business Solutions Reward offers an additional 10% rebate for selling a solution aimed at a particular IT challenge on eligible software content of the solution.  Eligible solutions cover client needs such as turning information into insights, managing risk, security and compliance and social business.  In addition, approximately 1% in fees can be earned when clients finance their solution through IBM Global Finance.

The new products will begin shipping worldwide by March 16, 2012.