Virtual Desktop Tools, Server Virtualization
businesswire | July 19, 2023
Spectro Cloud announces new Palette VerteX Edition and new Spectro Cloud Government practice to meet the growing need for powerful management and security for Kubernetes (K8s) in the public sector.
Kubernetes adoption is growing across the public sector, from federal and defense to state and local government. Public sector organizations are looking to K8s and the open-source, cloud-native ecosystem around it to help drive IT agility in pursuit of their mission. But IT and platform engineering teams are often held back from embracing their choice of K8s by limited resources and restrictions around security and compliance frameworks.
To get the most from Kubernetes, they need the flexibility and simplicity to manage the full lifecycle of multiple Kubernetes distributions deployed in diverse environments, from cloud to edge, including air-gapped locations. And they need this without sacrificing security.
Today Spectro Cloud announces a new edition of its award-winning Palette Kubernetes management platform to meet the needs of these government and public sector organizations, and other industries where security and compliance are paramount.
“We developed Palette VerteX with extensive input from government agencies and customers, along with our public sector team’s decades of experience in delivering secure IT to government,” said Dave Cope, CRO of Spectro Cloud. “Palette VerteX builds on the firm foundation of our Palette enterprise platform to address the specific security requirements of public sector environments, including both military and civilian agencies.”
Palette: trusted K8s management from data center to edge
The award-winning Palette platform is already enabling thousands of platform engineers and DevOps professionals to deploy and manage their full-stack Kubernetes clusters in production, at scale.
They have the power to choose all the components of their clusters and manage clusters consistently across edge, bare metal, data center and cloud. Palette’s deep automation of day 2 activities like patching and monitoring helps stretched teams focus on innovation and removes roadblocks to scale, whatever their mission.
Palette already provides a unique combination of power and simplicity that has attracted enterprise customers in demanding and regulated industries, such as T-Mobile and GE HealthCare, which deal with sensitive data and mission-critical infrastructure at scale.
From the start, Palette was engineered with robust security features including security scans, powerful RBAC, auditing and logging, and tamperproof edge device images. The Palette management platform can be deployed on-premises and even in air-gapped environments.
New VerteX edition adds security capabilities
Now the new Palette VerteX edition extends Palette’s security features further.
VerteX supports the environments and technology platforms essential to government workloads, including deploying Kubernetes clusters in AWS GovCloud, and supporting Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ubuntu LTS and Ubuntu Pro as the managed OS layer. Support for Azure Government Cloud is coming later this year.
Furthermore, Spectro Cloud announces that Palette VerteX brings full FIPS 140-2 cryptographic features to both the Palette platform and the Kubernetes clusters it deploys and manages, whether in traditional compute environments or at the edge. FIPS 140-2 is a key security baseline for many public and private sector organizations.
"Palette VerteX is designed from the ground up with security in mind that permeates every aspect it touches, giving government IT, platform engineering, and security teams the confidence they need to deploy and manage any Kubernetes environment at scale,” said Matthew Appler, CEO, Corsec Security, Inc.
Mission-ready support you can rely on
Spectro Cloud is a US-headquartered company, with engineers located across the country, from California to Florida. Many are veterans or have spent their careers supporting defense and government IT organizations. As such Spectro Cloud is proud to offer a premium support tier, delivered exclusively by highly qualified US citizens on US soil, for agencies and departments that need it.
The non-disruptive answer to budget shortfalls
Together, the new features in the VerteX edition make Palette a compelling alternative to incumbent K8s management tooling, especially with its competitive and transparent usage-based pricing model. Palette presents a clear solution for organizations struggling with team resources and budgets. A recent study by analysts ESG found that Palette could cut operating hours and costs for a typical multi-cluster deployment by 90%.
But adopting Palette doesn’t mean ‘rip and replace’ for customers already tied into multi-year agreements with other vendors. One of Palette’s greatest differentiators is its broad support for different Kubernetes distributions and environments, including its ability to monitor and manage clusters built on Rancher RKE2 and Red Hat OpenShift.
Government organizations can leverage their existing investments while charting a course for modern Kubernetes, with openness as a core design principle in Palette VerteX.
“The Palette VerteX announcement comes at a pivotal time in the public sector where managing Kubernetes across organizations using multiple cluster types, across multiple cloud and on-prem environments is very much a challenging reality,” said Josh Slattery, Vice President of Technology Sales at Vertosoft, the leading technology distributor focused on the public sector. “It’s great to see Spectro Cloud launch a truly mission-ready Kubernetes management solution for government straight out of the gate, and we are excited to see the impact it will have on our public sector customers.”
Today’s announcement is the first step on Spectro Cloud’s government roadmap. Furthermore, Spectro Cloud is already working to make Palette the first multi-environment SaaS Kubernetes management platform to become FedRAMP Moderate certified.
“Palette was built to be secure and mission-ready from the start, and over the past year we’ve seen a lot of interest from public sector organizations of all kinds,” said Kyle Goodwin, VP of Public Sector at Spectro Cloud. “Today, with the announcement of these important enhancements, Palette VerteX provides a genuine best-in-class experience for demanding agencies and departments looking to simplify, secure and scale their Kubernetes infrastructure. Our message to government is this: Spectro Cloud is here, and we’re ready to accelerate your mission.”
About Spectro Cloud
Spectro Cloud uniquely enables organizations to deploy and manage Kubernetes in production, at scale. Its Palette enterprise Kubernetes management platform gives platform engineering and DevOps teams effortless control of the full Kubernetes lifecycle even across multiple clouds, data centers, bare metal and edge environments. Ops teams are empowered to support their developers with curated Kubernetes stacks and tools based on their specific needs, with granular governance and enterprise-grade security.
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Server Virtualization, Virtual Server Infrastructure
globenewswire | June 27, 2023
Impero Software, a leading provider of online student safety, classroom management and secure remote access software, today announced during ISTELive 2023 that it has incorporated AI and machine learning into its newly debuted “Impero Wellbeing” student safety software, dramatically elevating its capabilities of safeguarding learners.
When installed on student devices, Impero Wellbeing actively and automatically monitors for harmful keywords – such as those having to do with self-harm, bullying, violence, drugs, weapons, pornography or radicalization. If the software detects a student typing potentially dangerous keywords, it then records the incident by snapping a series of screenshots and flagging them in real-time for teacher and administrator review. The AI component is able to sort through the potentially thousands of flags and intelligently cut through false positives to give teachers immediate visibility to any concerning student behavior.
“The launch of machine learning for Impero Wellbeing is taking our goal of ensuring the safety of every learner to the next level,” said Justin Reilly, CEO of Impero Software. “Even the most intricate, nuanced filtering solution can have potentially thousands of false positives. We recently had a great example - perhaps a student is typing to their friend that they’re excited to go to the theater and see the new ‘Suicide Squad’ movie. That’s obviously a very different situation than looking up information on suicide. Our AI-powered solution is able to achieve a dramatic reduction in these false positives that would take up valuable staff time and alert teachers to only the truly dangerous phrases and searches – saving precious time that can make all the difference for a student in crisis.”
In addition to this active online monitoring, Impero Wellbeing can be paired with Impero Safeguard, a digital toolbox allowing teachers to record observed, “offline” events. If a student comes in without a jacket during a harsh winter or has visible bruises, teachers can log these concerns into a student profile for further investigation. Impero Wellbeing & Safeguard are unique in that they combine the “offline” and “online” flags into a single holistic view that gives teachers and school staff a full picture of a student’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s impossible to overstate how much of a difference having this technology at their back makes for teachers in today’s classrooms,” said Impero’s Product Engagement Manager Channing Anderson, who has previous experience as a teacher and school IT director. “Teachers today are being asked to fight against a mental health crisis while half their students are only visible through a screen. They can’t always see what’s happening, and these software solutions are transformative in catching red flags and taking proactive action well before any real danger presents itself.”
Other key features of Impero Wellbeing include:
Granular permission levels for school staff to protect confidential student information.
A constantly reviewed database of over 7,000 concerning keywords and phrases covering mental health, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation and more.
Integration with Impero Safeguard, enabling the online captures to be included in student-specific chronologies. These chronologies can be securely shared, making it easier than ever to support referrals and aid specialist intervention.
Intuitive reporting that paints a picture of individual student behavior, as well as trends across a class, year group and whole school - giving you valuable context to plan appropriate intervention tactics.
Full GDPR compliance with a firm commitment to student data privacy and security.
Full compatibility with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and ChromeOS.
About Impero Software
Impero is a global leader in digital solutions for safe and efficient studying and working environments, keeping students on-task and safe, and providing secure and efficient platforms for employees working remote.
In 2022, Impero acquired ContentKeeper, considered one of K-12's best web filtering solutions. Today we work directly with technical teams, schools, MATs, and Fortune 500 companies in more than 90 countries.
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Virtual Desktop Tools, Virtual Server Management
prnewswire | July 11, 2023
Anviz, an industry leader in professional and converged intelligent security solutions, has announced the launch of its next-generation access control solutions powered by Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP). The two new offerings – the SAC921 single-door access controller and C2KA-OSDP RFID keypad reader – are future-proof systems packed with state-of-the-art technology and smart features. Both solutions seek to ensure customer safety and peace of mind, providing a comprehensive security solution for today's modern world.
"Mounting concerns surrounding personal data security have raised awareness about the importance of digital safety in recent years, which is expected to drive significant changes in safety standards for data storage and transfer," said Felix, Product Manager of Anviz. "Aiming to take the lead in transforming how personal data is safeguarded, we launched our latest OSDP-based solutions equipped with tailor-made features for businesses looking for more advanced access control systems. We also believe SIA OSDP, the most widely-recognized standard for access control systems, will play a pivotal role in addressing security concerns by empowering manufacturers to offer enhanced security options with diverse functionalities to global users."
SAC921 Single-door access controller
SAC921 is a PoE-powered access control system that offers great flexibility and simplicity with a wider range of access control interfaces supporting alarm input, perimeter security, and device control. The SAC921 provides a revolutionary upgrade to the traditional Wiegand-based access control systems, significantly streamlining device operations while offering improved security features and better third-party compatibility.
Due to the adoption of PoE, OSDP, and built-in management software, installation of the SAC921 is easier and more cost-effective. Via Anviz's CrossChex remote control system, users can also access a more comprehensive set of security options, such as personnel identity verification, access control, and time attendance management system, granting powerful and customizable security capabilities.
C2KA-OSDP RFID keypad reader
The C2KA-OSDP RFID keypad reader ushers in a new era of PIN code access, delivering unrivaled convenience for both credentialed users and visitors alike. The cutting-edge reader goes beyond traditional access control by supporting multi-factor authentication with seamless integration of various credentials and access methods.
The keypad reader's breakthrough security capabilities are made possible by OSDP, securing connections and safeguarding against hacks. Unlike traditional Wiegand-based systems, OSDP-powered devices enable bidirectional communication between controllers and card readers using RS485, allowing for real-time monitoring of the card reader's status. This enables access control software to monitor, control, and encrypt data between the access control controller and card reader, delivering advanced tamper protection and usage tracking.
OSDP's key value come from its superior flexibility. Data shared between OSDP access control and readers are no longer confined to fixed-length data fields, such as 24 or 36, with AES128 encryption ensuring higher data security. As a member of SIA, Anviz intends to introduce more SIA OSDP Verified products to the global markets, allowing customers worldwide to enjoy higher security, richer functionality, greater ease of use, and increased interoperability brought by OSDP.
The packaged access control solution that combines the SAC921 access controller and C2KA-OSDP RFID keypad reader is scheduled to be launched in the second half of 2023. Anviz is also planning to upgrade its products to support greater compatibility with third-party solutions. This will be tailored to the needs of various industries, including education, government, commercial real estate, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality users, allowing them access to a comprehensive and integrated security control experience.
AboutAnviz Global
Anviz is the leading security solution provider for the commercial market. We are providing smart solutions based on cloud and IoT technologies to SMB and enterprises clients globally. Security is crucial to any office or facility, every building needs a way to keep the space safe, and most organizations also need to restrict access to certain areas. Anviz is the first access control company to make use of biometrics-based, RFID cards, mobile access technology and specialized hardware to achieve space safety goals. The powerful security features with convenient and flexible system, provide office efficiency for enterprises small and large.
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