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T-Systems puts security in Asian expansion plans

The company has pledged to invest up to US$60 million in Singapore, and is working with the IDA to develop infocomm security capabilities over the next three years.
Written by Vivian Yeo, Contributor
SINGAPORE--T-Systems Singapore is expanding its operations, pledging to invest up to US$60 million over the next 12 months in the island-state.

Thomas Jakob, CEO of T-Systems Singapore, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom's business unit T-Systems, attributed the decision to higher growth rates for IT services in the region and more companies seeking to outsource security.

The company has partnered the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore to identify market opportunities and to develop infocomm security capabilities over the next three years.

Speaking at the inauguration of the partnership on Wednesday, Franz-Peter Heider, executive vice president of ICT security at T-Systems International, said that today's competitive pressures and shorter product life cycles have led to a greater need for security testing. He said such testing in the manufacturing process is currently "a little on the short side".

"Improving security is an ongoing task," said Heider. However, frequent upgrades and changes to security configurations, as well as the need for relevant human resources pose a financial challenge, he said. With more organizations outsourcing their IT security functions, Haider said managed security services is a "booming market".

One of the first initiatives of this collaboration is the newly-setup Security Evaluation Lab in Singapore announced last month.

Operated by T-Systems, the center is the first to be set up in Asia to evaluate and certify security products based on the global Common Criteria standard.

Heider said that the evaluation facility will "stimulate the security industry" in the region, enabling manufacturers in Asia to obtain the necessary Common Criteria certification which they can use to break into international markets. More than 20 countries worldwide have adopted the Common Criteria standard.

The products that will be evaluated in the Singapore facility include operating systems, access control devices and systems, databases, ICs and smart cards and smart card-related devices and systems.

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