Latest news with #ScottHarrell


TECHx
7 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
Infoblox Enhances Threat Defense to Boost DNS Security
Home » Emerging technologies » Cyber Security » Infoblox Enhances Threat Defense to Boost DNS Security Infoblox, has announced major enhancements to its Protective DNS solution, Infoblox Threat Defense. The upgrade is aimed at helping organizations counter advanced, AI-driven cyber threats with preemptive DNS security. The company revealed that as cybercrime costs approach $23 trillion by 2027, traditional 'detect and respond' tools are no longer sufficient. Attackers are now using AI to launch stealthy, single-use malware and phishing attacks, increasing the risk of any organization becoming 'patient zero.' Infoblox reported that its Threat Defense solution blocks high-risk domains an average of 68 days earlier than conventional tools. It achieves this through predictive threat intelligence and machine learning-based detection. The platform maintains a false positive rate of just 0.0002%, one of the lowest in the industry. Mukesh Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Infoblox, compared the company's approach to targeting cyberattack infrastructure before attacks occur, rather than responding after the damage is done. This strategy helps security teams reduce risk and stop threats at the DNS layer. Key updates to the platform include: Protection Before Impact: Offers metrics on threats blocked before causing harm, demonstrating security ROI. Offers metrics on threats blocked before causing harm, demonstrating security ROI. Security Workspace: A centralized dashboard with actionable insights and improved visibility. A centralized dashboard with actionable insights and improved visibility. Detection Mode: Identifies missed threats without requiring DNS configuration changes. Identifies missed threats without requiring DNS configuration changes. Asset Data Integration: Provides context for protected assets, aiding investigation. Provides context for protected assets, aiding investigation. Token-Based Licensing: Simplifies procurement and aligns cost with protected assets. Infoblox also powers Google Cloud's DNS Armor, offering native DNS security for cloud workloads, currently in public preview. The company noted that by stopping threats earlier, its solution lightens the load on traditional detect-and-respond tools like XDR and SIEM. Infoblox's approach supports Gartner's prediction that preemptive cybersecurity will replace 40% of reactive tools by 2028. The strategy is aligned with NIST SP 800-81, which highlights DNS as a key early-warning system. Infoblox CEO Scott Harrell emphasized that legacy systems reliant on 'patient zero' no longer suffice against AI-enabled threats. Nathan Sinclair, Chief Information Security Officer for the City and County of San Francisco, said Infoblox eliminated a major blind spot in their DNS visibility. He added that the solution has helped block exploits and strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Infoblox continues to evolve its DNS security capabilities, helping organizations take a proactive stance against evolving cyber threats.


Techday NZ
05-08-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Infoblox upgrades DNS defence to counter AI-driven cyberattacks
Infoblox has introduced enhancements to its Protective DNS solution aimed at countering increasingly sophisticated, AI-driven cyberthreats for organisations across a range of sectors. With a global rise in cyberattacks and new tactics from adversaries leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to target vulnerabilities, Infoblox's improvements focus on providing protection before threats can cause disruption or damage to users, devices, Internet of Things (IoT)/Operational Technology (OT), and cloud environments. Pre-emptive defence The recent upgrades to Infoblox Threat Defence utilise predictive threat intelligence combined with algorithmic and machine learning-based detection capabilities. This preventative approach is designed to stop high-risk and malicious domains on average 68 days earlier than traditional security tools, while maintaining a reported false positive rate of 0.0002 per cent. "The difference between most DNS security tools and our approach is like the difference between law enforcement chasing street-level drug dealers versus taking down the cartel," said Mukesh Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Infoblox. "We target the suppliers behind the cyberattackers - the cartel - so threats can be blocked before they ever reach the network. This preemptive strategy helps security teams reduce risk, eliminate noise and stop threats at the DNS layer before they ever reach the network." The advancements are designed to provide tighter security through features such as more comprehensive visibility, actionable insights, flexible token-based licensing models, and improved reporting on threats stopped prior to causing impact. Infoblox reports that these tools provide clear, quantifiable metrics that may assist security teams in demonstrating return on investment by highlighting threats intercepted before reaching critical systems. Cloud integration and proactive threat blocking In addition to protecting traditional networks, Infoblox's Protective DNS technology is set to power Google Cloud's DNS Armour, a move that will bring native security to cloud workloads. The public preview of Google Cloud's DNS Armour, supported by Infoblox, is expected later this year. By blocking attacks earlier in the cyber kill chain, the company suggests it can reduce reliance on downstream detection and response systems, such as XDR (Extended Detection and Response) and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management). This shift aligns with recommendations from analysts such as Gartner and guidelines like the NIST SP 800-81, which highlight the value of DNS-layer defences in preventing incidents at an earlier stage. Industry response and regional focus Scott Harrell, President and CEO of Infoblox, commented on shifts in the cyber threat landscape, stating, "Traditional 'detect and respond' security simply can't keep pace with today's AI-driven attackers and malware. Cybercrime is evolving faster than ever, costing the world trillions and exploiting gaps in legacy defences. The legacy kill chain approach depends on someone else being 'patient zero' so those legacy systems can learn and react - but attackers today customise malware to target individual businesses or industries, rendering legacy, reactive approaches ineffective against modern AI-enabled attackers. When you're patient zero, the only thing being 'killed' is your business. The future of cybersecurity must be preemptive: stop threats before they ever reach your organisation." Paul Wilcox, Vice President of Regional Sales, APJ, drew attention to regional trends, saying, "Across APAC, cyberattacks are growing more aggressive and calculated. From exploiting third-party access points to targeting critical systems - attackers are finding the cracks in our digital foundations and are using AI to strike faster and smarter than ever." He continued, "For businesses in Singapore, where digital services are tightly woven into daily life, any downtime or confidentiality breach can be deeply disruptive. That's why organisations here need to invest in earlier threat detection that starts at the DNS layer. Stopping an attack before it begins is far less costly than dealing with the aftermath." Reporting and security operations enhancements The updated Infoblox solution introduces a centralised Security Workspace for deeper visibility, and a Detection Mode that highlights missed threats without necessitating changes to existing DNS configurations, aiming to minimise operational risk for organisations. The Asset Data Integration feature offers additional context for analysts conducting further investigations. Flexible token-based licensing aligns pricing with usage, simplifying procurement and potentially offering clearer value for cost-conscious enterprises. The enhancements come as analysts predict global cybercrime costs could reach USD $23 trillion by 2027. The company's approach is designed to stop attacks before impact, rather than waiting for an initial breach to trigger a response, aiming to help organisations remain resilient against the evolving tactics of cyber adversaries.


Travel Daily News
30-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
PM Hotel Group: Scott Harrell is VP of Development & Feasibility
PM Hotel Group appoints Scott Harrell as Vice President of Development, Feasibility & Analytics, strengthening strategic growth and portfolio expansion efforts. CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND – PM Hotel Group, an industry leader in hospitality management, announce the appointment of Scott Harrell as Vice President of Development, Feasibility & Analytics. Harrell brings nearly 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and hospitality investment to the organization, with a proven track record of evaluating and executing high-value transactions, conducting rigorous market analysis, and delivering results that drive long-term portfolio growth. 'Scott's depth of experience in investment strategy, valuation, and deal execution across the hospitality sector positions him as a strong addition to our team,' Paul Sacco, Chief Growth and Development Officer, PM Hotel Group. 'As we continue to expand into new markets, his expertise will help ensure we make informed, strategic decisions that support our owners and our future.' Prior to joining PM Hotel Group, Harrell served as Director at Hodges Ward Elliott, where he contributed to over $5 billion in hospitality transactions across the U.S. He also held roles as Director of Acquisitions at TPG Hotels & Resorts and Senior Underwriter at CWCapital, building a well-rounded foundation in real estate finance, underwriting, and asset management. Over the course of his career, Harrell has cultivated deep industry connections and a reputation for analytical rigor and collaborative leadership. In this new role, Harrell will help lead the sourcing of new third-party management contracts, including existing hotel assets and new development opportunities, while building and maintaining a robust business development pipeline. He will also oversee operational analytics, as well as feasibility studies across branded and independent properties, applying his data-driven approach and deep industry knowledge to drive long-term portfolio growth. PM Hotel Group is a Top-15 hotel management company with a portfolio of 92 hotels nationwide, including properties operated under its lifestyle division, Modus by PM Hotel Group. The company continues to prioritize sustainable growth, innovation, and performance excellence across all segments of its portfolio.


Channel Post MEA
10-04-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Infoblox And Google Cloud Partner On Networking Security
Infoblox has announced it is collaborating with Google Cloud to simplify enterprise networking and security while helping organizations accelerate their cloud transformation journeys. Infoblox and Google Cloud are offering two new solutions to help enterprises address challenges in hybrid, multi-cloud networking and cybersecurity: Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN is a fully integrated solution that combines the world-class, global Google Cloud Cross-Cloud Network infrastructure with Infoblox's industry-leading DNS and DHCP capabilities to transform enterprise networking. Google Cloud DNS Armor, powered by Infoblox, is a next-generation, native Protective DNS solution that provides robust and preemptive detection of malicious activity for Google Cloud workloads. 'The partnership with Google Cloud represents a strategic milestone in our commitment to innovation and mission to enhance cloud networking and security,' said Scott Harrell, president and CEO, Infoblox. 'It's a testament to the critical role that Protective DNS and DDI services play in managing and securing today's hybrid multi-cloud environments. Infoblox and Google Cloud are providing enterprises with tightly integrated, cloud-first solutions that enable secure connectivity while also reducing operational overhead. Together, our technologies are used to manage critical workloads at nearly every Fortune 100 company.' 'At Google Cloud, we are committed to building a cloud infrastructure with global scale that helps simplify operations for our customers,' said Muninder Singh Sambi, VP/GM, Networking, Google Cloud. 'Enabling a resilient and secure network is a critical component of that vision—bridging networking and security to help ensure seamless connectivity and performance. Infoblox has long been a leader in DDI and Protective DNS innovation, making them the ideal partner to help us deliver enterprise-grade network services in the cloud. By integrating Infoblox's technology into Google Cloud, we're making it easier for organizations to modernize, connect and scale their global operations with confidence.' As businesses today face growing challenges to simplify operations, strengthen security and stay agile, they require a more streamlined, integrated approach to networking and security. 'The partnership between Infoblox and Google Cloud marks a major leap forward in enterprise networking and security,' said Alfredo Rodriguez, vice president, cloud platform infrastructure, Sabre Corporation. 'By uniting their expertise, they are delivering scalable, intelligent solutions that simplify branch operations, fortify defenses and enable agile, efficient cloud connectivity.' Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN The Infoblox Universal DDI integration with Google's Cloud WAN allows organizations to quickly deploy Universal DDI's NIOS-X as a Service with ease. Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN provides infrastructure-free DNS and DHCP services, anywhere in the world, tightly integrated with the Google Cloud Cross-Cloud Network. The combination provides enterprises modernizing their infrastructure with enhanced performance, resiliency and scale across the globe. These integrated services greatly simplify infrastructure deployment and management, reducing total cost of ownership while helping to ensure the efficient delivery of applications, workloads and services to branches, data centers and users worldwide. This fully integrated, centrally managed solution unifies enterprise backbones, SD-WANs and enterprise-grade critical network services. And, when combined with Infoblox security offerings, Infoblox Universal DDI can be used as a single interception point to deploy consistent security policies across an entire hybrid cloud infrastructure. Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN is available in the Google Cloud Marketplace. The Infoblox Universal DDI integration with Google's Cloud WAN allows organizations to quickly deploy Universal DDI's NIOS-X as a Service with ease. Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN provides infrastructure-free DNS and DHCP services, anywhere in the world, tightly integrated with the Google Cloud Cross-Cloud Network. The combination provides enterprises modernizing their infrastructure with enhanced performance, resiliency and scale across the globe. These integrated services greatly simplify infrastructure deployment and management, reducing total cost of ownership while helping to ensure the efficient delivery of applications, workloads and services to branches, data centers and users worldwide. This fully integrated, centrally managed solution unifies enterprise backbones, SD-WANs and enterprise-grade critical network services. And, when combined with Infoblox security offerings, Infoblox Universal DDI can be used as a single interception point to deploy consistent security policies across an entire hybrid cloud infrastructure. Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN is available in the Google Cloud Marketplace. DNS Armor, powered by Infoblox DNS Armor from Google Cloud leverages Infoblox's deep expertise in protective DNS and DNS-centric threat intelligence to secure cloud workloads, delivering simplified, scalable threat detection. The solution provides enhanced and preemptive security designed to integrate seamlessly without increasing operational complexity. It allows customers to inspect DNS communications for malicious activity, such as ransomware, command and control, data exfiltration, Zero Day DNS threats, domain generation algorithms and more. Infoblox's technology powers the DNS Armor service, and customers can activate and configure DNS threat detection directly on the Google Cloud console. Administrators can monitor DNS queries and access real-time DNS threat logs that enable early threat detection and a proactive security posture. DNS Armor can detect attacks 63 days before other solutions. The solution is easy for any Google Cloud customer to activate within the Google Cloud console. 'As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the collaboration between Infoblox and Google Cloud delivers a game-changing approach to network security,' said Bob Walker, senior domain network engineer, Lloyds Banking Group. 'Google Cloud's DNS Armor, powered by Infoblox, harnesses the best of both technologies—cutting-edge DNS threat intelligence and scalable cloud architecture—to provide enterprises with robust protection against emerging threats.' 'Infoblox powers Google Cloud's DNS Armor with intelligence beyond just a DNS block list—tracking activity of potential adversaries to uncover and flag every corner of their malicious network,' said Chris Kissel, research vice president, security and trust, IDC. 'The first challenge to cybersecurity is it's typically reactive, and DNS Armor, powered by Infoblox, provides a preemptive solution to securing cloud workloads that doesn't add additional complexity or compute.'


TECHx
10-04-2025
- Business
- TECHx
Infoblox, Google Cloud Unite to Simplify Enterprise Security
Infoblox, a cloud networking and security provider, has partnered with Google Cloud to simplify enterprise networking and enhance enterprise security, accelerating cloud transformation globally. Infoblox, a cloud networking and security services provider, has announced a new collaboration with Google Cloud. This partnership aims to simplify enterprise networking and enterprise security while accelerating cloud transformation for businesses worldwide. Together, Infoblox and Google Cloud are launching two integrated solutions that address challenges in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The first, Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN, combines Infoblox's DNS and DHCP capabilities with Google Cloud's Cross-Cloud Network. This powerful integration supports infrastructure modernization while enhancing global performance and scalability. It also helps organizations reduce deployment complexity and operational costs. The second solution, Google Cloud DNS Armor powered by Infoblox, is a next-generation Protective DNS service. It proactively detects malicious activity targeting cloud workloads. By leveraging Infoblox's DNS threat intelligence, it delivers high-impact enterprise security with minimal operational burden. Users can activate the service directly in the Google Cloud console and monitor threats in real time. Scott Harrell, president and CEO of Infoblox, stated that the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation. He emphasized the growing importance of Protective DNS and DDI services in supporting enterprise security within hybrid, multi-cloud infrastructures. Muninder Singh Sambi, VP/GM of Networking at Google Cloud, added that the collaboration bridges networking and security. He noted that Infoblox's experience in DDI and threat detection makes them a strategic partner for delivering robust enterprise security solutions in the cloud. Today's businesses face rising pressure to stay agile while strengthening enterprise security across distributed environments. These new solutions directly respond to that demand by providing scalable, cloud-native tools that simplify operations. Infoblox Universal DDI for Google's Cloud WAN is available through the Google Cloud Marketplace. It enables rapid deployment of NIOS-X as a Service and offers global, infrastructure-free DNS and DHCP. The solution also supports unified policy enforcement across all hybrid cloud environments when paired with Infoblox's security offerings. Google Cloud DNS Armor provides early detection of ransomware, Zero Day threats, and data exfiltration attempts. It gives IT teams full visibility into DNS activity and ensures faster, more proactive threat response. Bob Walker of Lloyds Banking Group described DNS Armor as a game-changer for enterprise security, while Chris Kissel of IDC praised its ability to reduce complexity without sacrificing protection. With this partnership, Infoblox and Google Cloud are delivering integrated solutions that help organizations build stronger foundations for enterprise security in a cloud-first world.