BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Business has joined the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) to help promote security within the "cloud" -- services delivered over the Internet.

As a corporate member of the alliance, Verizon Business will lend its global security leadership to advocate for increased awareness and education concerning security best practices for the cloud.

Industry experts predict cloud computing will be the next major advancement in information technology as it offers businesses a new cost-effective model for allocating and utilizing computing resources -- such as networks, servers and storage -- on an as-needed basis.

"The Cloud Security Alliance has taken on a critical role in the industry to encourage security in the cloud," said Michael Marcellin, vice president of Verizon global managed solutions. "Verizon Business' involvement in the CSA underscores our focus on helping companies securely use the cloud to facilitate the next generation of corporate computing."

As a new CSA member, Verizon Business will provide input and guidance on what makes for strong cloud-computing security practices. The company also has the opportunity to participate in -- as well as access and share with enterprise customers -- cutting-edge research on cloud-computing security issues.

"An industry leader such as Verizon Business participating in the Cloud Security Alliance helps put more focus on this highly critical area at a time when industry adoption is pivotal," said Jim Reavis, CSA's founder. "We believe that Verizon Business, through its innovative approach to security and the delivery of cloud-based solutions, will continue to play a key role in moving the industry forward."

Verizon Business delivers an extensive portfolio of IT and hosting solutions, including its recently launched Computing as a Service (Caas) solution -- a robust, on-demand cloud-based offering that employs a three-tiered approach to security. CaaS and Verizon's other IT services are aimed at helping customers improve their IT infrastructure and boost application performance in today's complex, dynamic business environment. Supported by a global team of professional services experts that deliver a broad range of world-class capabilities and backed by a secure and reliable technology infrastructure, Verizon's IT solutions allow customers to meet their most pressing IT needs. More information is available at http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/itsolutions.

About the Cloud Security Alliance

The Cloud Security Alliance is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to promote the use of best practices for providing security assurance within Cloud Computing, and to provide education on the uses of Cloud Computing to help secure all other forms of computing. The Cloud Security Alliance is led by industry practitioners and supported by founding charter companies PGP Corporation, Qualys, Inc. and Zscaler, Inc. For further information, the Cloud Security Alliance Web site is www.cloudsecurityalliance.org.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with the world's most connected IP network to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees -- enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest businesses and governments -- including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions -- rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com

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SOURCE Verizon Business

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