Easiest, most effective way to control and secure POS systems and kiosks



    BOSTON, Aug. 6 /EMWNews/ -- Bit9, the pioneer and leader in

Enterprise Application Whitelisting, today announced a new security

solution for companies with Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and kiosks: Bit9

Parity for POS(TM). Built on the company's industry-leading application

whitelisting expertise, Bit9 Parity for POS is the easiest and most

effective way for retailers and any company with a POS system or kiosk to

control and secure information as well as help with Payment Card Industry

(PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) compliance.



    



    Locking down and securing today's POS payment devices, servers and

self-serve kiosks has never been more challenging, as the 20-year-old

antivirus industry that relies on pattern-matching and blacklisting is

struggling to keep up with the exploding universe of malware. POS and kiosk

systems pose a serious security challenge as they are often targeted by

malicious hackers for their role in handling sensitive and valuable

customer data. Yet most companies are unable to easily control what

applications can and cannot run on these machines. Many POS systems are

also unable to easily receive updates and patches, or control portable

storage devices, leaving systems open for employees or malicious hackers to

install unauthorized software or copy confidential information.



    Bit9 Parity for POS addresses these challenges by making it easier and

more cost-effective to control these machines. The Bit9 solution gives IT

and security professionals the ability to identify and decide which

applications and devices are approved and appropriate to run in their

environment, while blocking any unauthorized software, known and unknown

malware, and the use of storage devices.



    By taking this positive approach to security with application control

and application whitelisting, Bit9 provides the ability to identify and run

only approved software and devices, drastically reducing the amount of IT

support and maintenance needed on these systems. Companies no longer need

to rely on in-store personnel to update signatures, patches and security

configurations.



    "Bit9 is committed to providing new and innovative security and control

solutions to meet our customers' challenges. We recognized that Point of

Sale systems, devices, servers and kiosks present a soft target for

malicious hackers and that companies need a better way to help demonstrate

compliance with PCI DSS rules," said Bit9 CMO and Chief Strategist, Tom

Murphy. "Bit9 Parity for POS is our answer to ease the pain our retail

customers are facing in managing, controlling and securing these systems."



    Bit9 Parity for POS includes support for:



    -- Windows Embedded Point of Service (WePOS) integration to lockdown

Windows computers and POS systems to ensure only approved software runs;



    -- PCI support & system protection , to quickly and easily help enable

PCI DSS compliance;



    -- Cardholder data protection (Lockdown & Device Control), to prevent

unauthorized access to data, block the usage of unauthorized devices and

applications, and ensure information is secured.



    Supporting Information:



    -- Ritz Camera received the Gartner IT Security Innovation Award in

June of this year for the company's implementation of Bit9 application

whitelisting to protect its kiosk systems and demonstrate PCI DSS

compliance.



    -- Marks & Spencer (M&S), one of the largest retailers in the United

Kingdom, has licensed the Bit9 solution to proactively protect its

customers and retail operations from unauthorized software and malware and

to enforce Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) on

16,000 of its POS systems.



    -- In a report published by Gartner on August 5, 2008, Gartner analysts

Neil MacDonald and Michael A. Silver wrote, "Application control solutions

address shortcomings in antivirus and other signature-based approaches and

provide security and operational benefits." The report also states, "When

antivirus agents and patching aren't possible, consider application control

and system hardening as alternative security controls for point-of-sale

terminals, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and

other devices that fall under regulatory requirements."*



    -- Bit9 has formed a strategic partnership with Pinnacle Corporation to

help Pinnacle retail customers meet PCI DSS requirements and adhere to

Visa's Payment Application Best Practice (PABP) standard requirements.

    About Bit9



    Bit9 is the pioneer and leader in enterprise application whitelisting.

The company's patented solutions ensure only trusted and authorized

applications are allowed to run, eliminating the risk caused by malicious,

illegal and unauthorized software. Unlike traditional, reactive controls

that try to scan and prevent the never-ending list of unauthorized

software, Bit9 leverages the Bit9 Global Software Registry(TM) -- the

world's largest database of software intelligence -- to ensure only

authorized applications can run, delivering the highest levels of desktop

security, compliance, and manageability. Bit9 customers include companies

in a wide variety of industries, such as retail, financial services,

healthcare, e-commerce, telecommunications, as well as government agencies.

Founded in 2002, Bit9 is privately held and based in Waltham,

Massachusetts. For more information, visit http://www.bit9.com or call

617.393.7400.



    *Application Control Market Update, by Gartner analysts Neil MacDonald

and Michael A. Silver, August 4, 2008






    Media Contact:

    Greg Sabey

    Text 100 for Bit9, Inc.

    617.399.4909

    [email protected]