|
May 3, 2010 - May 7, 2010
General News
* Ongoing Operations Receives NACUSO Award
* IID Launches ActiveTrust DNS
* Two CUs Select Open Solutions
* New CU*BASE Features Streamline Member Verification
Ongoing Operations, a leading business continuity CUSO that protects 19% of credit union industry assets and more than 4.6 million members nationwide, took home top honors at NACUSO's recent annual conference. The CUSO Collaboration & Innovation award honors those who exhibit excellence and innovation in utilizing the collaborative model to bring new solutions to the credit union industry.
Internet Identity (IID), a provider of technology and services that help organizations secure Internet presence, announced the availability of IID ActiveTrust DNS, a comprehensive Domain Name System (DNS) security solution for the extended enterprise. Designed to detect, diagnose and mitigate DNS security threats for both an organization and its web of partners, IID says that ActiveTrust DNS secures everything from Internet transactions and messages to corporate and consumer data.
Open Solutions, a leading provider of integrated, enterprise-wide data processing technologies for credit unions throughout the United States, Canada and other international markets, announced two credit unions have selected DNA-sme (Standard Market Edition) to address their enterprise-wide core processing needs. DNA-sme is an open core system, built on a centralized relational database. The credit unions are Scenic Falls Federal Credit Union in Idaho Falls, ID ($65 million) and Communication Services Credit Union in Lansing, MI ($20 million).
The West Michigan-based CUSO, CU*Answers, announced that with its recent 10.0 CU*BASE Software Upgrade, a new Photo ID Indicator will tell credit union staff whether a member has a photo ID on file while servicing the member. Additionally, to help emphasize the importance for staff to pause when the Verify Member and Comments screen appears, the label used to exit the window has been changed from “Backup” to now read “Verified Member.”
Hardware News
Netgear released the ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit SSL VPN Firewall (SRX5308), a business firewall appliance that, at $500, is well priced to target the small- to medium-sized business IT budget. With an advertised speed of over 1Gbps and support for two different modes of load-balancing on its 4 WAN ports, Netgear wants to offer a speedy but low cost alternative to high-end enterprise firewalls. In addition to the 4 WAN ports, the SRX5308 also has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed LAN access, one of which can be set aside as a hardware DMZ port if you have outward-facing servers. The SRX5308 supports up to 125 simultaneous IPSec VPN tunnels and 50 simultaneous SSL VPN tunnels.
In order to improve the performance of its servers, HP announced that it is overhauling their Integrity line and adding Intel Itanium 9300 quad-core processors. In addition, the new servers will feature HP's BladeSystem Infrastructure, support for HP's converged infrastructure (HP BladeSystem Matrix), and more than 100 other improvements. In fact, the company claims the new servers will offer a 450 percent improvement in reliability.
|
Hardware Section Sponsored by
Millennial Vision, Inc. (MVi)
|
Back to Top
Software Updates
The Blackbird Management Suite covers nearly every facet of Microsoft Active Directory management and is comprised of modules, which can also be licensed individually:
- Blackbird auditor. Monitors Active Directory (AD) and Group Policy (GPO) changes in real time.
- Blackbird privilege explorer. Shows who has access to which AD and Windows resources.
- Blackbird privilege manager. Lets data owners control access and changes to their resources without infrastructure changes.
- Blackbird protector. Protects against unauthorized and accidental modifications to objects in AD.
- Blackbird recovery. Provides real-time change monitoring and recovery to ensure the continuous availability of applications and access rights.
- Blackbird detroubler. Provides a stand-alone backup and recovery solution for Novell’s eDirectory, as well as the Active Directory platform.
Profits4Purpose announced that Mission Federal Credit Union has implemented their software to track their employees’ donations and participation in community events. Profits4Purpose software helps automate the way organizations contribute to communities, whether through donations, in-kind donations or volunteer time. The system pulls together all of the data – money and in-kind donations, and time volunteered – and permits employers to include a link on their websites that shows clients how much money and time their organization has contributed.
Helping employees locate and work with networked files is a big part of IT support duties. Having the right tool to accomplish this task is critical. We will cover one affordable and effective package in the June issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe today.
|
Software Updates Sponsored by
Raddon Financial Group (RFG)
|
Back to Top
ATMs/Kiosks
Wincor Nixdorf announced the launch of an enhanced PC/E Terminal Security multi-vendor ATM security software suite. The enhanced suite, comprised of its PC/E Terminal Security Intrusion Protection and PC/E Terminal Security Access Protection solutions, can be deployed on any type of ATM in a multi-vendor environment, and supports credit unions in achieving compliancy with international security standards and regulations, including PCI standards and state data protection laws as currently in force in 46 states in the U.S.
A group of private investors recently purchased mid-tier ATM manufacturer Triton Systems. These private investors bought the firm for $7.5 million and intend to leave Triton’s key officers intact. Triton currently has approximately 180,000 ATMs deployed worldwide.
Back to Top
CU Success Stories
Here is a chance to learn about real life credit union success stories from various technology vendors through the words of their clients. This week's vendor is:
InfoSys Networks
and their client is:
NASA Federal Credit Union
Credit Unions - if you have a vendor that you are happy with then please let us know!
Vendors - if you have a credit union that is happy with your solutions then please let us know and we will give you a $100 discount on your Case Study!
Back to Top
Wireless World
The fourth generation of Verizon's Long Term Evolution network promises a five-fold increase in speed compared to today’s 3G mobile data networks. 4G LTE promises peak speeds of 100Mbps, but expecting that consistently is unrealistic. Verizon plans to consistently deliver five to 12Mbps with bursts up to 70 million, which is quite an advance over 3G’s two million or less. Meanwhile, AT&T said that its 4G LTE trials would begin later this year with commercial deployment starting in 2011, while Sprint is ahead of everyone with their Wimax technology that is already live in markets covering 30 million people.
PSCU Financial Services is the first CUSO to start offering participating credit unions the Visa Transaction Alert service. SMS or email alerts are delivered through Visa’s transaction alerts platform and are usually sent within seconds of transaction authorization. Members can choose to receive the following alerts:
- transaction declined
- out of country transaction
- card-not-present transaction
- gas station charges
- transactions exceeding an amount set by the cardholder
One analyst firm is convinced that the credit unions must focus on m-commerce because it is set to take off as mobile banking services take root. We will explain their reasoning in the June issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe now.
Back to Top
Security Section
Microsoft just published Version 8 of its Security Intelligence Report (SIR). Key points in the SIR are:
• Running updated software decreases the attack surface and increases general robustness. Attackers target Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6) up to four times more often than the newer version IE 7.
• Windows 7 is another three times less likely of being infected by malware than XP SP3.
• Attacks against Microsoft Office make use of older vulnerabilities and can easily be avoided by keeping the software suite up to date. By applying the respective service packs, users can avoid the majority of Office file format attacks.
SNOsoft, a research team at cyber-security specialists Netragard, used Facebook, LinkedIn and job sites such as Monster and Dice to penetrate a "mid-sized" bank's security systems. The firm gathered valuable information from Facebook, mapping relationships between employees, vendors, friends and family. The social networking site also helped identify key people in accounts receivable/accounts payable (AR/AP) at the bank. To gather additional information, the SNOsoft team applied for an IT security job and used the subsequent screening to learn more about the institution's defenses. Based on the intelligence gathered, SNOsoft moved to penetrate the bank's systems by embedding an exploit into a PDF document and sending it to the victim's AR/AP department from its trusted IT services provider. SNOsoft installed its own back-door technology, deployed a suite of tools, and eventually gained access to desktops, servers and Cisco devices.
Zeldon Morris, a Provo, Utah computer contractor, was just sentenced to more than five years in prison and ordered to repay more than $1.8 million in restitution after pleading guilty to pilfering close to $2 million from four credit unions that he performed IT services for. Morris was employed as a third-party contractor by Open Source Solutions Inc, a computer services firm in Provo, and was supposed to help the four credit unions upgrade their systems. Morris used his access to initiate several fictitious ACH transactions, according to court documents.
|
Security Section Sponsored by
William Rogers & Associates
|
CU InfoSecurity Conference
The CU InfoSecurity Conference is the original and premier conference dedicated solely to credit union security. Here are just some of the topics that will be covered in this two and one half day security summit:
Social Networking
Phishing & Malware
Vendor Management
Virtualization Security
Security Best Practices
Controlling Admin Rights
Protecting Online Banking
Website Risk Management
Member Security Education
Controlling Employee Access
All paid attendees receive 2 complimentary room nights at a 5 star resort as part of the low conference price - the only conference in the credit union movement that makes this generous offer!
Plus multiple attendees from the same credit union attend at no charge!
More Info & Register Now ~ 800.808.2188
Back to Top
Leaders Roundtable
Security:
Managing Risk and Security Efficiently and Affordably
Back to Top
Technology and Marketing
Commence Corp., a provider of CRM solutions for small to mid-size organizations, announced the availability of Commence Lead Scorer, the latest addition to its suite of CRM solutions. The company says that their lead scoring feature enables increased sales effectiveness by targeting high potential consumers. The Lead Scorer is an automated business process that ranks and scores leads based on a set of pre-defined criteria. The criteria consist of a series of customizable questions that are used to automatically provide a score for each lead based on the responses entered into the system.
|
Technology & Marketing Section Sponsored by
MARQUIS Software Solutions
|
Contact John Kassing @ johnk@gomarquis.com to learn more.
Back to Top
Online Banking/E-Commerce/Website Design
According to research by eCom Advisors, 48% of Americans are interested in replacing cash and checks with P2P payments for common needs such as sending money to a child at college, or out of the country, or for splitting the cost of a gift with family members or friends. eCom Advisors recommends that credit unions position electronic P2P payments as a component of a payment and money movement portal. The firm tested the concept of an "ePayment Portal" - where consumers can transfer money, pay bills, conduct P2P payments, and track all their money movement from a single place online - for the research. The survey shows that 70% of those interested in this portal would be likely to use P2P payment services within it. Furthermore, 34% who express interest in the portal concept say they would be willing to switch to a credit union that offers electronic P2P payments as part of it.
Fiserv announced a partnership with MoneyGram International that will enable consumers to pay a wide variety of household bills through credit union websites the same day they are due. Consumers who pay bills at one of the more than 3,100 financial institutions that use the CheckFree RXP online payment service, which includes 23 of the top 50 financial institutions in the United States, will have access to the integrated same day payment option. Initially, bills from more than 100 well known national and regional companies will be available for same day payment, with the potential to add more than 1,000 additional bills based on consumer demand. Fiserv will utilize MoneyGram’s direct connections with billing companies to deliver the payments.
NACHA is currently building a biller directory that will provide information about online billers to all participants. Credit unions may want to consider getting onboard with their eBIDS bill presentment project - find out why in the June issue of Credit Union tech-talk - subscribe now.
Back to Top
Internet Access
F5 announced new solutions that apply load balancing, WAN optimization and security to virtualized environments. The company introduced a virtual version of its BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager application delivery controller. The traditional BIG-IP LTM appliance can be used for traffic on a physical network but not among virtual machines or within a cloud. So if an application is moved to a virtual environment, the virtual LTM can follow it and apply load balancing, content switching, security and acceleration to it.
Ringio's software-based phone system offers many PBX and call center capabilities for smaller credit unions. The phone software, also named Ringio, runs on the Adobe Air platform for compatibility with most PC operating systems and can deliver a large amount of information about a caller as soon as their call comes in. Ringio costs $25 per month per employee, with a minimum of four employees.
Back to Top
Call Centers
Intellicomm, a provider of hosted unified communications, announced the addition of a new call queuing and automated call distribution (ACD) feature set in its Innoport hosted service. Innoport is Intellicomm's hosted UC service that centralizes all inbound phone calls, voice mail, fax and instant messaging communications. With the help of ACD functionality, credit unions can setup a virtual call center - complete with comprehensive agent and queue management capabilities online via the Innoport online interface. The new ACD feature set also includes agent wrap up time flexibility, multiple interjecting prompts for callers on hold, automatic agent check out trigger, routing of callers based on criteria, such as, skill based, as entered, round robin, most idle agent or least utilized agent.
Back to Top
Conferences
Catch Tom and Bill Rogers, Associate Editor of Credit Union tech-talk at the following conferences in 2009:
May 19-21, Las Vegas - Credit Union InfoSecurity Conference
October 3-6, San Antonio - Firefighters National Credit Union Summit
November 4-6, Phoenix - Credit Union InfoTECH
Back to Top
|
