Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise releases cybersecurity updates for OXE Purple

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has introduced new cybersecurity enhancements for its OmniPCX Enterprise Purple solution to support compliance with the EU's NIS 2 Directive.

The NIS 2 Directive is aimed at improving cybersecurity across the European Union, mandating operators of essential services, including sectors such as government, transport, energy, health, and banking, to adhere to enhanced security measures. It also applies to organisations within the IT supply chain, given their vulnerability to cyber breaches through supply chain weaknesses.

The directive represents a notable change in regulatory focus, primarily targeting the security of network and information systems, while the existing General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) emphasises individual data protection and privacy rights. Together, these frameworks offer a comprehensive regulatory environment for data protection and cybersecurity within the EU.

With predictions by Forrester indicating that the cost of cybercrime could reach USD $12 trillion by 2025, the threat landscape is becoming increasingly complex, compounded by diverse working models where employees access data from various devices not always under robust security control.

Vincent Lomba, Chief Technology Security Officer at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, commented, "We are pleased to bring to market this enhanced version of the native encryption feature with the latest OXE Purple release. It offers the highest level of protection to meet the international security agencies' recommendations for an enterprise communications platform. Organizations today face a heightened threat of cyber-attack. Along with running security audits and risk analysis, securing all data flows through encryption technology has become essential, making the data impossible to decrypt even in the event of a data leak. Any organization (not just essential or important entities) that does not protect all devices and phones carrying confidential data is in danger of becoming a 'weaker link' thereby increasing its risk of attack."

The enhancements introduced to OXE Purple include native encryption for complete end-to-end protection of communications over both private and public networks. These updates have been expanded to protect ALE SIP phones, enhancing confidentiality for end-users.

Tee Jyh Chong, Vice President, Sales and Services, APAC at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, stated, "While NIS 2 is intended to cover the EU as a region, organizations in Asia Pacific (APAC) that form part of the supply chain for EU-based businesses must take proactive steps to ensure compliance with these new cybersecurity obligations, as well as to set up robust incident reporting mechanisms. ALE is committed to collaborating with our customers and partners to deliver solutions that are compliant with globally recognized cybersecurity standards, including NIS 2, and to ensure that we are fully protecting our customer data. As organizations in APAC align their practices with NIS2, they may find themselves better positioned for success in global markets, while contributing to a more secure digital environment globally."

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's solution not only promises enhanced security measures but also features regular updates under a support contract to defend against evolving cyber threats.

The core capabilities of the solution include secure connectivity between on-premises communication systems and ALE's cloud infrastructure, robust authentication protocols, seamless integration of hybrid work environments, high system availability, and strong data privacy protection through encryption and role-based access control.

By integrating these robust security features, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise aims to provide peace of mind to organisations across the globe, ensuring their communications frameworks meet internationally recognised security standards and offer protection against potential cybersecurity threats.