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BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH
© Frost & Sullivan 2 “We Accelerate Growth”
Contents
Background and Company Performance ........................................................................ 3
Industry Challenges .............................................................................................. 3
New Product Attributes and Customer Impact .......................................................... 3
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 6
Significance of New Product Innovation ......................................................................... 7
Understanding New Product Innovation ......................................................................... 7
Key Benchmarking Criteria .................................................................................... 7
Best Practice Award Analysis for Verizon ....................................................................... 8
Decision Support Scorecard ................................................................................... 8
New Product Attributes ......................................................................................... 9
Customer Impact ................................................................................................. 9
Decision Support Matrix ...................................................................................... 10
The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best Practices Awards ..................... 11
Research Methodology ........................................................................................ 11
Best Practices Recognition: 10 Steps to Researching, Identifying, and Recognizing Best Practices ................................................................................................................. 12
About Frost & Sullivan .............................................................................................. 13
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Background and Company Performance
Industry Challenges
The cyber threat landscape has become increasing perilous and more sophisticated.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), botnets, zero-day attacks, and countless malware
variants have caused significant monetary damage on a global scale.
As the threat landscape has changed, it is not a secret that the manner in which people
interact and communicate via the Internet has also changed with social media and other
forms of communication, computing, and collaboration. Gone are the days in which a Web
browser was used as one-way tool to obtain information from the Internet and interactive
information was only exchanged via e-mail. Web browsers and customized applications
are now the interface for a number of communication channels including Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter, Skype, and many others.
To address the new cyber threat reality and the growing breadth of the cyber
environments that need to be secured, organizations are aggressively investing in
protective measures. Whether the investments are in security technologies (security tools
including software and hardware appliances), security professionals including training &
education, certification, or external resources (use of outsourced or managed security
services and professional security services), spending on all categories is projected to
grow.
Despite the aggressive approach to cyber security that many organizations are taking, The
2015 (ISC)2 Global Information Security Workforce Study reported that more than half of
the almost 14,000 security professional respondents believed that their organizations did
not improve their positions against security adversaries. Additionally, remediation time
following a system or data compromise is lengthening.
Frankly, all organizations live in a world of finite resources. Every opportunity needs to be
taken to be smarter and more strategic in cyber security investments, improving the yield
achieved from such investments.
Verizon Enterprise Solutions has delivered a solution that does just that. Essentially,
Verizon Enterprise Solutions DBIR Splunk application is an application that can be
downloaded from the Splunkbase Web site and allows organizations to work smart and
more strategic in applying cyber security.
New Product Attributes and Customer Impact
Match to Needs
The DBIR app for Splunk is currently a Beta release. Verizon is actively updating
and enhancing the tool, and will continue to publish updated versions with
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increased functionality and usability features. The application is an easy-to-use
tool that leverages:
two powerful tools: (1) the research underlying the annual Verizon Data Breach
Investigation Reports, and (2).Splunk data collection and analysis software.
The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) is the cyber security’s preeminent
source of research on the topic of data breaches. For organizations looking to improve
their cyber security posture, the report filters the almost infinite number of possible
breach causes to actual, real-world vetted list, allowing organization to focus their cyber
security investments, and get maximum return on investments.
Splunk produces software for searching, monitoring, and analyzing machine-generated big
data. In network security, Splunk is well known for its customizability and usability. As
log management and SIEM platforms serve the compliance needs of organizations,
security professionals are finding value in using Splunk as a security analytics tool layered
on top of SIEM and other data sources. Splunk has a strong reputation for being able to
support heavy data loads and has strong application integrations with Hadoop and NoSQL
to handle “big data.”
The Verizon DBIR app for Splunk takes the rich breach intelligence from the DBIR and
makes it actionable within Splunk, using applied analytics to make focused
recommendations for organizations to deter and detect breaches based on real intelligence.
-The application contains dashboards and views for the recommendations
encompassing credential use, phishing, malware, DNS and Proxy log review,
and vulnerability management including:
Authentication tracking
Credential-based lateral movement
“Impossible journey” VPN connections
Data exfiltration flagging through email
Vulnerable system identification
Malicious outbound communication detection
Quality
The quality of the intelligence is beyond question. The “2015 Data Breach Investigation
Report” analyzes more than 2,100 confirmed data breaches and approximately 80,000
reported security incidents. Over its eight annual versions, the report addresses more
than 8,000 breaches and nearly 195,000 security incidents that have occurred over more
than 10 years. Additionally, the DBIR also includes security incidents that do not result in
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breaches, in order to offer a better survey of the cybersecurity landscape. Verizon is
among 70 global organizations that contributed data and analysis to this year’s report.
Price/Performance Value
Much like the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, the Verizon DBIR app for Splunk
is free. The application can be downloaded with no fees at
https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/2708/. For Verizon, the application is simply part of
the public service that Verizon provides in providing breach intelligence.
Using the application is not totally without cost. Splunk handles many data feeds “out of
the box” but the application will require some basic configuration work. For example, the
user credential monitoring requires that the proper systems are providing the required
information to Splunk, certainly not a challenging task but one that needs to be
accomplished. At the end of the day, there is not a better value and return on investment
anywhere within the security industry.
Customer Ownership Experience
The choice to use Splunk for the DBIR application was a good one. Common across all
Splunk platforms is the concept of operational intelligence:
Business insights correlate data traffic and apply business analytics to create
alarms.
Operational visibility is the idea that applications, endpoint activity, and all data
traffic can be monitored and acted upon centrally.
Proactive monitoring means Splunk can detect anomalies before pre-set rules are
applied.
Search and investigation occur in real-time and across multiple platforms.
Splunk has a rich constellation of security ecosystem partners. Key apps/partnerships
include Splunk for Palo Alto Networks, Splunk for Blue Coat ProxySG, Splunk for F5
Networks, FireEye, Splunk for Symantec Endpoint Protection, Splunk for Juniper SRX
firewalls, Oracle Audit Trail, Splunk Add-on for McAfee, etc.
Additionally, Splunk has architectural advantages as compared to many SIEM products.
Splunk collects raw data feeds easily and does not need custom collectors or parsers.
Splunk stores flat files without normalization and is schema agnostic. Splunk’s search
language creates several advantages including ability to initiate searches over multiple
data and file types and advanced correlation and anomaly recognition.
One practical example of how the DBIR application leverages the strength of Splunk
involves location data. Splunk collects and indexes data from just about any source
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imaginable, such as network traffic, Web servers, custom applications, application servers,
hypervisors, GPS systems, social media, and preexisting structured databases. Splunk
handles the ingesting of telemetry data easily, allowing the DBIR application to provide
utilities such as “impossible journey” VPN connection monitoring.
Conclusion
The creation of complex solutions requires ordinary inspiration. Genius is required for
solutions that are powerful yet simple to implement. Verizon Enterprise Solutions DBIR
application is genius, creating an easy to implement and use application that applies rich
and unparalleled real-world breach research to an organization’s unique network
environment. The result is actionable intelligence that can make measurable and tangible
improvements to an organization’s cyber security posture.
For its new, innovative, and distinctive DBIR application, Verizon Enterprise Solutions has
earned Frost & Sullivan’s 2015 New Product Innovation Award.
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Significance of New Product Innovation
Ultimately, growth in any organization depends upon continually introducing new products
to the market, and successfully commercializing those products. For these dual goals to
occur, a company must be best-in-class in three key areas: understanding demand,
nurturing the brand, and differentiating from the competition.
Understanding New Product Innovation
Innovation is about finding a productive outlet for creativity—for consistently translating
ideas into high quality products that have a profound impact on the customer.
Key Benchmarking Criteria
For the New Product Innovation Award, Frost & Sullivan analysts independently evaluated
two key factors— New Product Attributes and Customer Impact—according to the criteria
identified below.
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New Product Attributes
Criterion 1: Match to Needs
Criterion 2: Reliability
Criterion 3: Quality
Criterion 4: Positioning
Criterion 5: Design
Customer Impact
Criterion 1: Price/Performance Value
Criterion 2: Customer Purchase Experience
Criterion 3: Customer Ownership Experience
Criterion 4: Customer Service Experience
Criterion 5: Brand Equity
Best Practice Award Analysis for Verizon
Decision Support Scorecard
To support its evaluation of best practices across multiple business performance
categories, Frost & Sullivan employs a customized Decision Support Scorecard. This tool
allows our research and consulting teams to objectively analyze performance, according to
the key benchmarking criteria listed in the previous section, and to assign ratings on that
basis. The tool follows a 10-point scale that allows for nuances in performance evaluation;
ratings guidelines are illustrated below.
RATINGS GUIDELINES
The Decision Support Scorecard is organized by New Product Attributes and Customer
Impact (i.e., the overarching categories for all 10 benchmarking criteria; the definitions
for each criteria are provided beneath the scorecard). The research team confirms the
veracity of this weighted scorecard through sensitivity analysis, which confirms that small
changes to the ratings for a specific criterion do not lead to a significant change in the
overall relative rankings of the companies.
The results of this analysis are shown below. To remain unbiased and to protect the
interests of all organizations reviewed, we have chosen to refer to the other key players
as Competitor 2 and Competitor 3.
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DECISION SUPPORT SCORECARD FOR NEW PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD
Measurement of 1–10 (1 = poor; 10 = excellent)
New Product Innovation
New Product
Attributes
Customer
Impact Average Rating
Verizon Enterprise Solutions 10 10 10
Competitor 2 8 6 7
Competitor 3 7 6 6.5
New Product Attributes
Criterion 1: Match to Needs
Requirement: Customer needs directly influence and inspire the product’s design and
positioning
Criterion 2: Reliability
Requirement: The product consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations for
consistent performance during its entire life cycle
Criterion 3: Quality
Requirement: Product offers best-in-class quality, with a full complement of features and
functionality
Criterion 4: Positioning
Requirement: The product serves a unique, unmet need that competitors cannot easily
replicate
Criterion 5: Design
Requirement: The product features an innovative design, enhancing both visual appeal
and ease of use
Customer Impact
Criterion 1: Price/Performance Value
Requirement: Products or services offer the best value for the price, compared to similar
offerings in the market
Criterion 2: Customer Purchase Experience
Requirement: Customers feel like they are buying the most optimal solution that
addresses both their unique needs and their unique constraints
Criterion 3: Customer Ownership Experience
Requirement: Customers are proud to own the company’s product or service, and have a
positive experience throughout the life of the product or service
Criterion 4: Customer Service Experience
Requirement: Customer service is accessible, fast, stress-free, and of high quality
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Criterion 5: Brand Equity
Requirement: Customers have a positive view of the brand and exhibit high brand loyalty
Decision Support Matrix
Once all companies have been evaluated according to the Decision Support Scorecard,
analysts can then position the candidates on the matrix shown below, enabling them to
visualize which companies are truly breakthrough and which ones are not yet operating at
best-in-class levels.
DECISION SUPPORT MATRIX FOR NEW PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD
High
Low
Low High
Cu
sto
mer I
mp
act
New Product Attributes
Verizon
Enterprise Solutions
Competitor 2
Competitor 3
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The Intersection between 360-Degree Research and Best
Practices Awards
Research Methodology
Frost & Sullivan’s 360-degree research
methodology represents the analytical
rigor of our research process. It offers a
360-degree-view of industry challenges,
trends, and issues by integrating all 7 of
Frost & Sullivan's research methodologies.
Too often, companies make important
growth decisions based on a narrow
understanding of their environment,
leading to errors of both omission and
commission. Successful growth strategies
are founded on a thorough understanding
of market, technical, economic, financial,
customer, best practices, and demographic
analyses. The integration of these research
disciplines into the 360-degree research
methodology provides an evaluation
platform for benchmarking industry players and for identifying those performing at best-
in-class levels.
360-DEGREE RESEARCH: SEEING ORDER IN
THE CHAOS
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Best Practices Recognition: 10 Steps to Researching, Identifying, and Recognizing Best Practices
Frost & Sullivan Awards follow a 10-step process to evaluate award candidates and assess
their fit with select best practice criteria. The reputation and integrity of the Awards are
based on close adherence to this process.
STEP OBJECTIVE KEY ACTIVITIES OUTPUT
1 Monitor, target, and screen
Identify award recipient candidates from around the globe
Conduct in-depth industry research
Identify emerging sectors Scan multiple geographies
Pipeline of candidates who potentially meet all best-practice criteria
2 Perform 360-degree research
Perform comprehensive, 360-degree research on all candidates in the pipeline
Interview thought leaders and industry practitioners
Assess candidates’ fit with best-practice criteria
Rank all candidates
Matrix positioning all candidates’ performance relative to one another
3
Invite thought leadership in best practices
Perform in-depth examination of all candidates
Confirm best-practice criteria Examine eligibility of all
candidates Identify any information gaps
Detailed profiles of all ranked candidates
4
Initiate research director review
Conduct an unbiased evaluation of all candidate profiles
Brainstorm ranking options Invite multiple perspectives
on candidates’ performance Update candidate profiles
Final prioritization of all eligible candidates and companion best-practice positioning paper
5
Assemble panel of industry experts
Present findings to an expert panel of industry thought leaders
Share findings Strengthen cases for
candidate eligibility Prioritize candidates
Refined list of prioritized award candidates
6
Conduct global industry review
Build consensus on award candidates’ eligibility
Hold global team meeting to review all candidates
Pressure-test fit with criteria Confirm inclusion of all
eligible candidates
Final list of eligible award candidates, representing success stories worldwide
7 Perform quality check
Develop official award consideration materials
Perform final performance benchmarking activities
Write nominations Perform quality review
High-quality, accurate, and creative presentation of nominees’ successes
8
Reconnect with panel of industry experts
Finalize the selection of the best-practice award recipient
Review analysis with panel Build consensus Select winner
Decision on which company performs best against all best-practice criteria
9 Communicate recognition
Inform award recipient of award recognition
Present award to the CEO Inspire the organization for
continued success Celebrate the recipient’s
performance
Announcement of award and plan for how recipient can use the award to enhance the brand
10 Take strategic action
Upon licensing, company may share award news with stakeholders and customers
Coordinate media outreach Design a marketing plan Assess award’s role in future
strategic planning
Widespread awareness of recipient’s award status among investors, media personnel, and employees
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About Frost & Sullivan
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