A security software company specializing in host intrusion defense systems, Third Brigade, announced that to help protect its web applications and servers from targeted attacks against cardholder data, Harvard Medical School has deployed the Third Brigade Deep Security host intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS). The protection will help Harvard Medical School to meet the data security standards set out by the Payment Card Industry (PCI).

Chief Information Officer and Dean for Technology, Harvard Medical School, John Halamka, declared: "Security is a journey. We want to implement all the technology tools needed to ensure our data is protected."

Endorsed by JCB, Discover Financial Services, American Express, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., the PCI Data Security Standards, requires merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data integrity.

Including intrusion detection and prevention, firewall, and application firewall capabilities, Third Brigade Deep Security is an advanced, host-based intrusion defense system that brings proven network security approaches down to individual computers and devices.

Including those on virtual machines, from attacks that bypass or penetrate network defenses, and target vulnerabilities in operating systems, and enterprise and web applications, Third Brigade best-of-breed host intrusion defense systems protect critical data and applications. Third Brigade Deep Security, with a high performance deep packet inspection engine, detects and prevents known and zero-day attacks, and provides a virtual patch for Microsoft® Windows®, Linux, Solaris™, and other Unix® hosts on physical and virtualized systems. It helps ensure regulatory compliance with PCI and other standards, and prevents costly business disruptions. Unlike others, Third Brigade provides broader, faster and simpler protection.