Live @ IBM InterConnect 2012: A Q&A With Brendan Hannigan on Security Intelligence

As IBM's general manager for its Security Systems Division will tell you, we're entering into a perfect IT security storm.

These days, hackers are more sophisticated, your data is increasingly accessed anytime and anywhere, and often resides in the cloud.

Fewer access points are corporately-controlled, and there is a growing digital data explosion while the compliance demands on staff and systems escalate.

These trends mean corporate IT security can no longer be an afterthought where a secure perimeter is good enough. Instead, security intelligence preventing, detecting, and addressing system breaches anywhere must start in the boardroom and become part of your organization's IT fabric. It is now imperative to be woven into your everyday business operations.

Brendan Hannigan is General Manager of the IBM Security Systems Division in the IBM Software Group; he brings more than 25 years of industry experience to his role. Previously, Mr. Hannigan was the president and chief executive officer of Q1 Labs, the acquisition of which catalyzed the creation of the Security Systems Division. This division brings together many capabilities across IBM to respond to the market need for sophisticated, comprehensive, and integrated approaches to enterprise security.

Brendan Hannigan brings more than 25 years of industry experience to his role as general manager of the new IBM Security Systems Division.

Previously, he was the president and chief executive officer of Q1 Labs, the acquisition of which catalyzed the creation of the Security Systems Division.

This new division brings together many capabilities across IBM to respond to the market need for sophisticated, comprehensive, and integrated approaches to enterprise security.

Prior to Q1 Labs, Brendan was vice president of marketing and technology at Sockeye Networks; director of network research at Forrester Research; and served in a variety of senior-level product development roles at Digital Equipment Corporation, Wellfleet Communications, and Motorola.

We discussed a number of security-related topics during our Q&A at IBM InterConnect, including browser exploits, the need for increased security intelligence, and IBM's bi-annual X-Force Trends and Risk Report, which I've covered extensively in this blog.

You can see our interview here.