IBM joins risk management frenzy

IBM has unveiled a set of new IT governance and risk management products that aim to help users comply with government regulations and prevent data leaks.

As part of the risk management focus, the company unveiled a new suite of services called the Business of IT Dashboard, as well as its IT Lifecycle Management and Governance Services for Tivoli.

Risk management is a broad term that describes the process of controlling IT and data assets throughout their life cycle. It is essentially done by linking disparate security products through a central management console. In IBM's case, the company is combining recent acquisitions such as Internet Security Systems, Consul, FileNet and Micromuse.

IT risk management is the flavour of the day in the security market. McAfee in October started targeting the risk management space by linking several of its existing products such as SiteAdvisor, Citadel and Foundstone.

Symantec meanwhile is addressing risk management under its "Security 2.0" banner that marks the company's focus expansion from anti-virus and online threat protection to protecting data.

IBM however is also pitching its services organisation, contending that firms can achieve additional security improvements if they make security a factor the way that business processes are designed and set up.