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Network Security Monitoring as a Service (NSMaaS): Enterprise Visibility Without the Overhead

Until recently, achieving full network visibility was a privilege reserved for large enterprises. Advanced monitoring required significant capital investment, specialized security teams, and lengthy deployment cycles. Today, IT teams, particularly those across Europe, face heightened complexity, limited staff, and growing regulatory pressures. The threat landscape is constant, but the ability to manage it varies widely.

Making Enterprise Visibility Accessible

Managed monitoring changes the operational equation for organizations that cannot afford a dedicated 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC). It provides many benefits similar to SOC as a Service (SOCaaS) but avoids the complexity and infrastructure burden of building a full security function internally.

With technologies like GREYCORTEX Mendel (a Network Detection and Response, or NDR, solution), providers can offer the same depth of insight previously only accessible to major corporations.

The core value is simple: organizations finally gain clarity into what is happening inside their network. They can spot misconfigurations, detect unauthorized connections, and notice the early signs of malicious activity. For many, this is the first time they can verify whether their segmentation and firewall rules are effective against real-world traffic.

How Service-Based Monitoring Works in Practice

This model is exemplified by partners like SOC360 in Poland. They combine Mendel’s deep visibility with their own expert monitoring and response processes, providing predictable costs, quick deployment, and continuous expert oversight.

Key Components of a Managed NDR Service:

  • ✅ Continuous network and log monitoring, providing a constant pulse on system health.
  • ✅ Detection of hidden threats, unauthorized access attempts, and policy violations using behavioral analysis.
  • ✅ Investigation support using historical metadata and full-context analytics for rapid root cause analysis.
  • ✅ Monthly reporting and guidance with clear, actionable recommendations for IT teams.

For many organizations, this replaces reliance on assumptions and isolated alerts with insights supported by data and clear recommendations.

Scaling Up: Visibility for Mature Security Teams

For larger organizations that maintain their own SOC, the approach shifts. Instead of outsourcing, they integrate GREYCORTEX Mendel directly into their environment. In these setups, deep network visibility becomes a powerful analytical advantage.

In-house SOC teams gain a clear view of device communication, user behavior, and performance trends over time. Crucially, they access historical data that traditional log-centric tools often cannot provide. This depth speeds up investigations, reduces noise, and helps analysts understand not only that something happened, but also how and why it occurred.

Conclusion: Visibility That Fits Any Security Maturity

Network security monitoring proves that meaningful visibility is no longer limited by the size of your security team. Smaller companies gain critical clarity without building a SOC, while mature environments enhance their detection and investigation workflows through deeper network context.

GREYCORTEX Mendel supports both needs: it enables providers to deliver reliable monitoring as a service, and it gives enterprise SOCs the analytical depth required to manage complex infrastructures. The objective remains the same: reduce uncertainty, speed up response, and create a network environment where hidden activity is harder to ignore.

 

About GREYCORTEX
GREYCORTEX uses advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining methods to help organizations make their IT operations secure and reliable.

MENDEL, GREYCORTEX’s network traffic analysis solution, helps corporations, governments, and the critical infrastructure sector protect their futures by detecting cyber threats to sensitive data, networks, trade secrets, and reputations, which other network security products miss.

MENDEL is based on 10 years of extensive academic research and is designed using the same technology which was successful in four US-based NIST Challenges.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

IT Operations Management (ITOM): The Silent Backbone

2025-12-11   IT Operations Management (ITOM) is the technical backbone ensuring IT infrastructure is stable, available, and efficient. It focuses on monitoring, automation, capacity planning, and configuration management (CMDB). By proactively detecting and resolving issues before users notice, ITOM complements ITSM and is rapidly evolving toward AIOps for smarter, data-driven automation.

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Zero-Trust VDI for Trading Floors: Meet SEC 17a-4 with Browser-Native Desktops

Capital markets operate under the harshest interdiv of regulatory scrutiny, cyber risk, and real-time performance requirements. Trading floors must simultaneously ensure sub-10 ms latency, enforce strict segregation of duties, store records immutably, and prevent any leakage of sensitive market data—whether traders are working on-premises, at home, or in regulated international environments.

Traditional VDI and physical trading towers were never designed for this landscape. They assume trusted networks, trusted devices, and perimeter firewalls—models that no longer match the way trading firms operate. In 2025, regulatory agencies expect firms to adopt Zero-Trust principles, enforce strict identity governance, and produce immutable audit evidence on demand.

Browser-native desktops running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) provide a direct path to achieving this. They eliminate the endpoint as a threat vector, record sessions immutably, centralize policy enforcement, and store all regulatory evidence in WORM form. For CISOs and compliance leaders, this architecture simplifies what was previously a patchwork of tools and controls into a single, governable system.

To understand the architecture powering browser-native trading desktops, start with our foundational guide.

Why Zero-Trust Matters in Trading Environments

Trading floors remain one of the highest-value targets for cyber-attacks. Sophisticated adversaries are now specifically exploiting unmanaged home networks, personal devices, and VPN tunnel exposures. A compromised trader laptop is not simply an IT issue—it can lead to unauthorized trades, leaked models, or regulatory violations.

Zero-Trust VDI removes trust from the endpoint entirely. Every session is authenticated, authorized, segmented, monitored, and recorded, regardless of the user’s location. Nothing on the device has privileged access. No data ever lands on the endpoint. Every action is captured for compliance.

Thinfinity’s browser-native protocol and OCI’s defense-in-depth controls create a hardened pathway for financial workloads: low-latency, high-fidelity, and compliant by design.

How Browser-Native Desktops Achieve Zero-Trust

Zero-Trust is not a feature—it is an operational model. Browser-native desktops on OCI enforce this model through five architectural principles that traditional VDI cannot replicate.

  1. Endpoints Carry Zero Data
    Because all rendering is performed through WebGL and HTML5 canvas, the endpoint receives only encrypted pixels. No files, credentials, or cached artifacts are ever present locally. Lost or compromised devices become irrelevant to risk assessment.
  2. Sessions Are Recorded and Stored Immutably
    Every trader session is captured as an MP4 with correlated log metadata. OCI Object Storage WORM ensures these recordings cannot be altered, overwritten, or deleted before their retention period expires. This directly satisfies requirements under SEC 17a-4(f), FINRA 4511, and CFTC 1.31(b).
  3. Policy Enforcement Is Centralized in the Cloud
    Role-based access control defines exactly which applications, data sets, market-data sources, and execution systems a trader can access. No policy exists at the device level—everything is authenticated and enforced from the cloud, reducing regulatory drift and shadow-IT exposure. [Image of Zero-Trust Architecture illustrating centralized policy enforcement]
  4. Identity Is Federated Through SAML or OIDC
    Identity becomes the new perimeter. Traders authenticate using the firm’s enterprise identity provider, MFA, and device posture checks. This removes password sprawl, eliminates local credential exposure, and provides a consistent control plane across jurisdictions.
  5. Network Paths Are Outbound-Only
    Thinfinity connects resources using outbound reverse connections. There are no inbound firewall holes, no exposed RDP ports, and no VPN tunnels to compromise. This architecture maintains Zero-Trust at the network edge without sacrificing performance.

Meeting SEC, FINRA, and CFTC Requirements

Most financial institutions still maintain a web of tools to satisfy evidentiary, retention, and reporting obligations. Browser-native VDI consolidates these requirements into a single audit pipeline.

Immutable Storage (WORM) — SEC 17a-4(f)

OCI Object Storage WORM guarantees that no session recording, audit log, or encryption key can be altered or removed during the mandated retention period. This satisfies non-rewrite, non-erase mandates without specialized appliances.

Recordkeeping Integrity — FINRA 4511

Every workspace interaction is time-stamped, signed, and indexed. Data lineage becomes deterministic, producing standardized evidence files ready for FINRA reviews or internal audit.

Books and Records — CFTC 1.31

Browser-native desktops generate structured logs and tamper-proof session evidence that meets CFTC requirements for electronic records, metadata completeness, and accessibility.

Browser-native VDI does not approximate compliance—it achieves it by design.

Blueprint: Zero-Trust VDI for a Trading Floor (90 Days)

A Zero-Trust trading floor is not a multi-year transformation. Most firms complete the transition within 90 days using the following model:

  1. Phase 1: Establish the OCI landing zone, identity federation, network segmentation, and Cloud Guard baselines.
  2. Phase 2: Build the hardened golden image including Bloomberg, Eikon, Excel libraries, market data entitlements, and internal tools.
  3. Phase 3: Deploy Thinfinity dual gateways, autoscaling GPU pools, and WORM storage policies.
  4. Phase 4: Pilot with a 50-trader group under compliance observation.
  5. Phase 5: Expand to full production with standardized controls across all desks and jurisdictions.

This creates a verifiable, compliant, and inspectable environment that regulators immediately understand and trust.

Zero-Trust as a Competitive Advantage

In capital markets, security and compliance are not abstract mandates—they influence trade execution reliability, time-to-market, talent retention, and the ability to operate across global jurisdictions. A Zero-Trust desktop model built on browser-native delivery gives firms a competitive edge by combining security, operational discipline, and low latency in one architecture.

The shift away from physical trading towers is no longer only about efficiency; it is about building an environment where compliance, auditability, identity governance, and performance coexist without compromise. Browser-native desktops make that possible.

About Cybele Software Inc.
We help organizations extend the life and value of their software. Whether they are looking to improve and empower remote work or turn their business-critical legacy apps into modern SaaS, our software enables customers to focus on what’s most important: expanding and evolving their business.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Why Real-Time Log Encryption Is Now Essential

2025-12-09  Real-time log encryption is now essential because logs contain sensitive data and serve as blueprints for sophisticated attackers like APTs and ransomware groups. Following incidents like the Salesforce third-party breach, organizations must treat logs as critical assets requiring protection from the moment they’re created. This proactive approach, exemplified by solutions like Penta Security’s D.AMO, neutralizes damage if storage is compromised and enhances threat detection by preventing attackers from analyzing unencrypted system architecture and account patterns.

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備份中的功能蔓延:演進還是逃避策略?

備份產業正處於身份危機中。一些供應商正大量投資於安全功能,一些則轉向全面的數據管理,還有些試圖成為「萬能」解決方案。Storware 選擇了一條深思熟慮的道路——專注於卓越地執行一項核心功能:快速、可靠的復原。

當成功滋生複雜性:一個警示故事

功能蔓延的一個經典例子是流行的光碟燒錄程式 Nero Burning ROM。它最初因其高度專業化而聞名。然而,製造商逐漸添加了非核心功能,如影片編輯和文件轉換。這種擴展使得軟體變得臃腫且難以操作,對於只需要基本燒錄功能的用戶來說,模糊了其原始的直觀效用。

這種現象——功能蔓延——在 IT 領域廣泛存在。研究證實,平均軟體產品中約有 80% 的功能 很少或從未使用。此外,Gartner 估計,到 2023 年,I&O 領導者將在未使用的 ITSM 工具功能上超支 7.5 億美元。這種臃腫不僅增加了複雜性和維護成本,也為更專業的競爭對手創造了市場機會。

市場現實:演進還是孤注一擲?

企業備份和復原市場在 2023 年增長了 5.1%,然而 2024 年的特點是激進的整合。像 Cohesity、Veeam 和 Commvault 這樣的主要參與者正在收購競爭對手,以快速擴大其產品範圍。對於高階主管來說,這提出了一個關鍵問題:這種整合是在創造真正的價值,還是在專業化競爭中求生存的孤注一擲?

數據管理:真正的轉型還是行銷改造?

一個有爭議的趨勢是傳統備份供應商將自己定位為數據管理領導者。雖然備份供應商擁有強大的儲存和復原知識,但真正的數據管理需要完全不同的專業化水平,涵蓋治理、數據血緣、合規性和目錄編制。

真正的信譽取決於證據:供應商是建構了真正的能力,還是僅僅重新包裝了舊功能?併購是一個自然的策略舉動,但不能保證被收購的技術具有可擴展性或兼容性。一些批評者認為,從備份轉向數據管理主要是一條逃生路線——在一個日益青睞專業化者的市場中求生存。

網絡安全與備份:攜手合作還是各自為政?

勒索軟件的興起戲劇性地改變了備份和安全之間的關係。攻擊者轉變了他們的策略,不僅加密生產數據,還會破壞備份副本,使贖金要求更有效。

問題的規模令人震驚:94% 的受攻擊公司證實駭客試圖破壞或刪除他們的備份。當備份受損時,贖金要求的平均值從 100 萬美元躍升至 230 萬美元。Veeam 的研究證實,89% 的攻擊目標是備份儲存庫。

行業應對與界線模糊

作為回應,儲存供應商推出了不可變快照、WORM(一次寫入,多次讀取)功能和「氣隙」實體隔離。Gartner 預測,到 2028 年,100% 的企業級儲存系統將會標準化地提供這些主動防禦元素。

一些備份製造商現在正將備份和威脅偵測工具整合到一個平台上。這通常是由財務考量驅動的,旨在進入龐大的全球資訊安全市場(預計到 2028 年將達到 2,920 億美元)。

整合優於整合的理由

批評者認為,網絡安全必須專注於預防,而備份的唯一作用是復原。Storware 認為,更好的解決方案是邏輯系統整合——允許專業工具之間進行「通信」(例如,將備份與 SIEM/威脅偵測平台整合)——同時保持實體隔離以實現獨立備份儲存。這種混合模型可以在不犧牲技術卓越性的前提下實現全面保護。

功能蔓延的真正代價

功能蔓延的財務影響遠不止於初始開發成本。開發人員平均每週花費 17.3 小時 處理不良程式碼和錯誤,外加每週 13.5 小時 處理技術債。對於企業來說,這意味著:

  • 上市時間延遲(項目平均延遲 6 個月或更久)。
  • 營運複雜性增加(需要更大的 IT 團隊和更廣泛的培訓)。
  • 總體擁有成本更高(臃腫的系統需要更多資源進行維護)。

在勒索軟件攻擊期間,擁有複雜、功能繁多的備份系統的組織面臨更長的復原時間、難以驗證備份完整性,以及為犯罪分子提供了更大的攻擊面。

前進的道路:專業化卓越

備份產業正站在十字路口。追逐每一個趨勢的供應商面臨變得臃腫且無效的風險。Storware 堅信專業化卓越的道路:以輕量級、高效、可擴展的方式交付核心功能——快速且可復原的備份。

給高階主管的核心啟示

  • 市場整合訊號: 2024 年備份供應商的併購浪潮(Cohesity、Veeam、Commvault)表明市場存在不確定性。評估收購策略是真正創造價值還是僅增加複雜性。
  • 勒索軟件的商業案例: 94% 的攻擊針對備份,備份受損時贖金需求翻倍。備份韌性是一個董事會層級的財務風險。
  • 臃腫軟體的隱藏成本: 組織每年在未使用的軟體功能上浪費數百萬美元。不需要的複雜性就是不應承擔的成本。
  • 整合 vs. 合併: 優先考慮專業化工具的整合(SIEM 與備份通信),而不是完全合併到一個萬能供應商。保持專業卓越性。
  • 復原作為策略重點: 專注於復原能力(RTO、RPO 和經過驗證的測試)而非冗長的功能列表。簡單性和可靠性永遠勝過功能臃腫。

關於 Storware

Storware 是一家專注於備份軟件的企業,擁有超過十年的行業經驗。Storware 的備份與還原解決方案適用於各種數據環境,無論是虛擬機、容器、儲存提供商、Microsoft 365 還是運行在本地或雲端的應用程式,均能提供支援。其小巧的設計使其能夠無縫整合進現有的 IT 基礎設施或企業級備份方案中,提供極為便捷的備份保護。

關於Version 2

Version 2 Digital 是立足亞洲的增值代理商及IT開發者。公司在網絡安全、雲端、數據保護、終端設備、基礎設施、系統監控、存儲、網絡管理、商業生產力和通信產品等各個領域代理發展各種 IT 產品。透過公司龐大的網絡、通路、銷售點、分銷商及合作夥伴,Version 2 提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及服務。Version 2 的銷售網絡包括台灣、香港、澳門、中國大陸、新加坡、馬來西亞等各亞太地區,客戶來自各行各業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用事業、醫療、金融、教育機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企及來自亞洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

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