Israeli network intelligence and security-as-a-service (SECaaS) vendor, Allot, has announced that a Tier-1 telco in APAC has selected its HomeSecure solution to provide its B2C customers with cybersecurity and parental controls. The solution will be deployed in CPEs provided to millions of fixed broadband consumers in the operator’s cloud-native environment.
According to Ran Fridman, EVP Global Sales, Allot’s new APAC customer sees anti-malware protection for all home-connected devices and parental controls as a basic requirement for its customers.
This is, at least in part, because the malware encounter rate in APAC is 1.6 times higher than the global average, according to the Microsoft Security endpoint threat report 2019. This, in turn, creates an opportunity for telecom providers to deliver zero-touch, fully automated services that protect their customers while generating additional revenues for themselves.
Allot HomeSecure is aimed at SME and household customers, providing security for home IoT, smart appliances, and any device connected to the home network. It integrates into the existing home router with the addition of a thin software client that provides home network visibility, cybersecurity and parental controls without the need for any configuration by the consumer. The solution uses AI to identify and profile connected home devices and to detect and act upon anomalous device behavior. An app is also provided that enables customers to control and manage their network security and parental controls should they wish to do so.
Omnisperience’s view
Cybersecurity is one of the low hanging fruit for telecoms firms looking to increase their revenues. B2B service providers that target enterprise customers – such as NTT – have already identified that connectivity, data and security are key. However, the SME market, and smart lifespace market, are still underserved. (see Unlocking the Emerging Opportunities from Smart Lifespaces)
For these customers, cybersecurity is still too difficult and too fragmented. They do not have cybersecurity expertise and need effortless protection from threats to their devices, networks and data. Telecoms firms are ideally placed to deliver this type of service because of their existing customer relationships and ownership of the CPE.
The potential for this type of offering is now even greater due to more people working from home – often only protected by a simple end point solution (if at all). Telecoms firms would therefore do well to pay attention to how they can grow their offering in this area to support their customers while growing their own revenues from meeting an urgent customer need.
