The Lippis Report

By Cisco and Synacor

Synacor used Cisco network infrastructure and security solutions to enhance network protection and streamline compliance. Fast-growing Internet businesses cannot afford network failures or security breaches. This is especially true for Synacor, a leading technology company that advances the delivery of meaningful content and technology solutions for multiple system operators (MSOs), telecommunication companies, and Internet service providers (ISPs) around the globe. Through Synacor's private label portals, subscribers can access a broad range of published and premium content, including entertainment, education, and family-oriented offerings from their homepages.

Today, through its service providers, Synacor's products and services reach more than 20 million broadband subscribers worldwide. With Synacor's business built around Internet products and services, network security is essential. The company must meet strict service uptime agreements and cannot afford to have its back-office assets or production networks disabled by a network attack. Additionally, as the company's business evolves, its security exposure has evolved as well.

"œAs we move to higher band-width media, movies, and especially gaming services, we are opening ourselves up to more threats," says Adam Howell, Director of Network Engineering and Systems Operations for Synacor. "œOne of our new accounts launching in 2007 will support more than one million subscribers right out of the gate and host a million e-mail accounts at our headquarters. We need to help ensure that there is no disruption or service degradation because of an attack on our network."

Synacor has heightened internal compliance standards. The company continues to be indirectly and directly involved in content sales, and with this enhanced activity maintains the protection of credit card information and complies with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard. As the company and systems grow and develop, Synacor's IT team is committed to making the technical infrastructure compliant with the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act governing financial and accounting disclosure.