ISP Pipex's early alerts help firms avoid danger

Fast alerts via email, RSS or SMS to reduce exposure to viruses, worms and phishing attacks

Internet service provider Pipex this week extended its security offerings by launching Pipex Alert, an early warning system that provides almost real-time alerts and information about possible attacks.

Pipex said that the service cold be used by firms looking to mitigate the threat posed by viruses, worms and phishing attacks.

The basis of the service is provided by E-Secure IT, and includes a completely customisable front-end. Firms can set it to their own exacting standards and focus only on the risks and issues that are appropriate to their business and industry.

Pipex Alert works by tracking threats and incidents as it comes across them, and sorting, evaluating and categorising them. Information on associated risks and how to deal with them can be delivered to the user via email, RSS or SMS.

"The traditional enterprise perspective is to secure perimeters with anti-virus and anti-spyware and firewalls but these are very manpower intensive, " argued Pipex's Angus Peacey. "The responsibility is moving to the ISPs to provide all the different security dimensions [necessary for firms]; Pipex Alert is one of these and we'll be putting in more facilities in future to help firms lock down and secure their perimeter."

There are four versions of the service: Home, Teleworker, Pro and Industry.