DALLAS-- 7-Eleven Inc. has chosen Bit9 Inc., a leader in enterprise application whitelisting, to proactively protect its retail systems from malware, data leakage and unauthorized software, as well as demonstrate Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance.In a corresponding project, 7-Eleven has also selected Bit9 Parity to lock down and harden its corporate laptops. The retaileris in the midst of a laptop refresh project with Dell, in which the company is standardizing the hardware and software on laptops used by store support and office personnel. 7-Eleven will use Bit9 [image-nocss] Parity to control which applications are allowed to run on the corporate laptops to reduce help desk calls and costs associated with "configuration drift" that arise when users intentionally or inadvertently download unauthorized software.
7-Eleven is one of a growing number of retailers that are defining and enforcing the use of authorized applications to vastly improve their IT security, help demonstrate PCI DSS compliance, lower the total cost of ownership and extend the life of existing systems.
"At 7-Eleven, we are committed to securing our corporate infrastructure as well as our in-store systems," said Brian Cator, senior director of IT operations and customer care for 7-Eleven. "By locking down and securing our laptops and store systems with Bit9 Parity, we are able to enforce our company policies, implement a control for PCI DSS requirements, and reduce the risk of known and unknown security vulnerabilities."
Retail systems pose a serious security challenge as they are often targeted by malicious hackers for their role in handling sensitive and valuable customer credit-card data. Most companies are unable to easily control what applications and devices can and cannot run on these machines. And many retail systems are unable to easily receive antivirus updates and patches or control portable storage devices, leaving systems open for the installation of unauthorized software or the copying of confidential information.
The Bit9 solution gives IT 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 or storage devices. This approach eliminates the risks associated with all forms of unwanted software, including targeted attacks for which no signatures exist.
In addition, many retail computer systems are not made to handle the large signature files that are now needed by antivirus and anti-malware solutions for scanning. By switching to whitelisting, Bit9 lifts that burden by preventing immediate "forklift" hardware upgrades that can cost millions and allows retailers to leverage their existing systems for a longer period of time.
"7-Eleven is now able to more easily and efficiently maintain a more standard and secure in-store systems environment," said Tom Murphy, chief strategy officer at Bit9. "Bit9 Parity gives 7-Eleven the protection, compliance and control they need over their retail IT operations."
Bit9's patented solutions ensure only trusted and authorized applications are allowed to run, eliminating the risk caused by malicious, illegal and non-authorized software. Unlike reactive controls that scan and try to prevent the neverending list of unauthorized software, Bit9 leverages the Bit9 Global Software Registry—which the company said is 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 avariety of industries, such as retail, financial services, healthcare, e-commerce and telecommunications, as well as government agencies.Founded in 2002, Bit9 is privately held and based in Waltham, Mass.
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