Vodafone launches critical infrastructure managed security service

Vodafone is looking to strengthen UK critical infrastructure security with the launch of its Cyber Enhanced managed security service.

Vodafone Cyber Enhanced combines the cyber security technology and services the company has previously provided into a service aimed at protecting the resources and digital estates of critical national infrastructure providers.

It will provide features such as firewall management, to help with the monitoring and support of both new and existing firewalls, as well as providing threat detection and prevention across an enterprise’s digital estate.

The company explained that Cyber Enhanced has multiple levels of managed services, so that way businesses in the utilities, transport hubs, banks and emergency services sectors can choose a level which would suit them best and reduce the workload of in-house IT teams.

Vodafone’s move to boost its cyber security portfolio is apt given that only last year, the number of UK companies reporting cyber incidents had risen from 45% to 61%, according to Hiscox’s Cyber Readiness Report.

“Cybersecurity is vital for all businesses, regardless of what industry they are in,” said Anne Sheehan, director at Vodafone Business UK.

“However, it’s especially important for those businesses that provide a service on which we all depend. Being a critical national infrastructure business ourselves, we understand the challenges our customers face; and can use our expertise in cyber security protection to assist them in both preparing for, detecting and managing potential cyber threats.”

Furthermore, there is an appetite for managed security services given the government has noted that thousands upon thousands of UK businesses lack the in-house cyber security skills to protect their enterprise operations against ever-evolving cyber threats and attacks.

This is the second launch for Vodafone this month, following the diversity initiative #ChangeTheFace, which was announced ahead of International Women’s Day. Late last year, the company also expanded its cloud offering by partnering with Google Cloud to build the Neuron big data platform

Sabina Weston

Having only graduated from City University in 2019, Sabina has already demonstrated her abilities as a keen writer and effective journalist. Currently a content writer for Drapers, Sabina spent a number of years writing for ITPro, specialising in networking and telecommunications, as well as charting the efforts of technology companies to improve their inclusion and diversity strategies, a topic close to her heart.

Sabina has also held a number of editorial roles at Harper's Bazaar, Cube Collective, and HighClouds.