Avaya and IBM have announced an expansion of their alliance relationship to deliver unified communications solutions backed by newly Avaya certified security products for enterprise clients and government organizations, worldwide. The two companies also plan to focus support on Avaya Aura – Avaya’s new unified communications architecture -- by incorporating Avaya Aura into existing IBM converged communications services.
As part of the expanded alliance, the companies will jointly deliver unified communications solutions that streamline mission critical and complex communication systems, achieve rapid return on investment and improve productivity by helping to allow users to communicate anytime from anywhere, regardless of device or network. In addition, Avaya has certified the IBM Internet Security Systems’ Proventia GX 5208 and Proventia Management SiteProtector SP1001 as compliant with IP telephony solutions from Avaya, enabling IBM to offer comprehensive intrusion protection for Avaya Aura’s communication system.
“As more and more companies move toward unified communications, it’s important that they take a holistic approach to security that encompasses multi-vendor applications in mobile and virtual environments,” said Dan Powers, vice president of brand, strategy, marketing and business development at IBM ISS. “Individual workers will assume security comes from the core, but they can be one of the most vulnerable points of entry if it does not. IBM has created solutions in our Intrusion Prevention Systems designed to help prevent current and emerging threats and help keep unified communications deployments secure.”
“IBM and Avaya have had a strong alliance for more than eight years, and with this expansion, we can offer a breadth of business communications solutions and truly complimentary portfolios designed to meet client demands around the globe,” said Laurence Guihard-Joly, vice-president of Integrated Communications Services, IBM. “Together, IBM and Avaya offer robust and security rich mission critical solutions while adopting industry protocols and open standards.”
“Avaya and IBM have a number of integrated solutions across our unified communications portfolios and a long history of success in contact center deployments,” said Todd Abbott, senior vice president and president, Avaya Field Operations. “As part of our expanded alliance, we are building a tighter relationship around the services, solutions and security that enable customers to quickly reap the benefits of Avaya Aura.”
IBM ISS is an active development partner with Avaya, working to provide interoperability with Avaya technology to help extend the value of customers’ investments in its network. IBM’s strong research, products and services builds the foundation for a pre-emptive approach to security, and gives Avaya customers choice and flexibility in how they choose to acquire key security technologies, whether it be through direct product purchases, Managed Security Services or through their carriers.