BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, July 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- Delivers Strong Security Offerings and Professional Service Capabilities

Verizon Business joins only a handful of companies around the world to be recognized by BSI Management Systems -- the world's leading international standards, testing, registration and certification organization -- as a leading provider of information security management.

BSI has inducted Verizon Business into its Associate Consultant Program (ACP) for ISO/IEC 27001, an internationally recognized and publicly vetted information security standard utilized in the development of information security management systems. Acceptance into the program denotes that Verizon Business passed a rigorous review of its comprehensive security portfolio and professional security capabilities.

Only an elite group of vendors, which must have a proven track record of offering strong value and performance to customers, are accepted into the BSI Associate Consultant Program.

Verizon Business delivers unmatched security expertise and capabilities to customers. Verizon Business security experts are among the best in the industry -- and the world -- when it comes to security and risk management. Many of these experts hold the Holistic Information Security Practitioner (HISP) certification, which educates practitioners on best practices for implementing multiple industry standards and regulatory requirements for information security and privacy, as well as how to integrate the ISO 27000 Series of Information Security Standards with these security standards and requirements.

Additionally, Verizon Business is one of the few security providers with a truly global footprint. The 1,100-plus security team operates around the world, supported by five state-of-the-art security operations centers (SOCs), more than 200 data centers and one of the world's most expansive IP networks.

"We've heard time and again from security executives around the world that the ISO Information Security Standard is the pre-eminent standard against which they measure their security programs," said Kerry Bailey, vice president of Verizon Business Security Solutions. "As such, Verizon Business is pleased to further embrace this critical global standard. The synergy between our holistic approach to security and the ISO Information Security Standard makes us a natural fit to join the BSI Associated Consultant Program."

Delivering a One-Two Punch With ISO 27000 Series of Information Security Standards

Verizon Business embraces ISO 27001 when developing information security programs for its customers. Its professional service experts work closely with their customers to intimately understand their business and then apply the principles of ISO 27001 in constructing an individualized security program framework.

Once the foundation is laid, Verizon Business helps customers implement a set of actual security controls, governed by the ISO 27002 Code of Practice for Information Security Management, through Verizon Business' complementary Security Management Program (SMP).

SMP, an integral part of the Verizon Business security portfolio, helps reduce risk through a proactive, programmatic approach to security. Verizon Business recently incorporated the ISO 27002 into the latest version of SMP. ISO 27002 now provides the basis for evaluating SMP customer security processes and procedures, allowing the customers to manage, monitor and align their security controls with the global standard.

Together, ISO 27001 and 27002 help to define information security best practices across an organization to better safeguard the integrity, confidentiality and availability of critical company data.

Verizon Business Security Solutions Powered by Cybertrust

Enterprises and government agencies rely on Verizon Business to help them manage security risk and protect critical company assets. Verizon Business Security Solutions, a leading global provider of managed security services, offers a comprehensive portfolio of security services powered by Cybertrust that include governance risk and compliance solutions, data loss and prevention solutions, identity management solutions, and managed security services. The company's more than 1,100 security professionals around the globe deliver these offerings through a range of managed services, professional services and technologies, based on what best suits the customer. More information is available by visiting http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/security. Specific information on the Security Management Program is available by visiting http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/products/security/compliance/mgmt.

About BSI Management Systems

British Standards Institution (BSI) is the world's leading management systems certification body. Founded in 1901, BSI has certified more than 60,000 locations in nearly 90 countries. Many 'Global 500' companies have chosen BSI as their preferred ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002, ISO 14001:2004 or ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certification body. BSI's certification experience covers virtually every industrial and commercial sector, including automotive, aerospace, chemical and allied processes, IT/software, and service. BSI Management Systems America, Inc. is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with offices in Toronto, Canada, and Mexico City, Mexico to serve the North American market. To learn more BSI's truly pioneering organization, visit www.bsiamerica.com.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world's most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company's customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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Web site: http://www.verizon.com http://www.verizon.com/news http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/security http://www.bsiamerica.com

Janet Brumfield, +1-614-723-1060, janet.brumfield@verizon.com, or Brianna Carroll Boyle, +1-703-859-4251, brianna.boyle@verizon.com, both for Verizon Business ; Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html