AT&T expanding FlexWare NFV platform to over 200 markets
US-based AT&T is expanding the reach of its AT&T FlexWare NFV platform to over 200 countries and territories worldwide, and adding new connectivity options and security applications to the platform. FlexWare is designed to simplify the delivery and deployment of software-based network functions for enterprise networks. The platform has now been expanded to support the full gamut of connectivity options from both AT&T and other operators, including Ethernet, VPN, dedicated internet and broadband. AT&T has also added three new virtual security options, including Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation security platform, Juniper Networks’ vSRX virtual firewall and Check Point firewall services in addition to the existing Fortinet and AT&T firewall options.
Apple, Visa facing patent suit over Apple Pay
Apple and Visa are reportedly facing a patent infringement lawsuit over the inner workings of Apple Pay. Universal Secure Registry (USR), a small company from Boston, has filed suit against the companies accusing them of wilfully violating USR patents that use biometrics to authenticate payments, and facilitate payments without storing or transmitting payment card numbers, reported Bloomberg. USR is seeking cash compensation as well as an order that would block Apple and Visa from continuing to use its claimed inventions without authorization. According to the suit, USR sought partnerships with both Apple and Visa long before Apple Pay was announced, introducing the companies to the patented technology that Apple Pay is alleged to have violated.
Regal Springs using InfiNet Wireless gear to connect fish farms
Fixed wireless equipment vendor InfiNet Wireless has completed a project to deploy a fast over-water networking solution at all Regal Springs fish farms across Mexico, Honduras, and Indonesia. Regal Springs is the world’s top producer of natural tilapia freshwater fish, which are raised in large floating pens. The company sought a more flexible and reliable wireless backhaul network to connect its geographically dispersed operations, and contracted InfiNet’s Mexican partner INXITE. Their solution consists of a combination of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless products. The InfiNet Wireless equipment operates via the only source of electrical power available on the open water fish farms: solar energy.
DDoS attacks were smaller and less frequent during Q1: Akamai
The median size of DDoS attacks had fallen to just over 500Mbps as of the first quarter, from 4Gbps at the start of 2015, according to Akamai’s latest State of the Internet - Security report. Huge attacks still happen, with the largest attacks recorded during Q1 being a DNS Water Torture Attack linked to the Mirai tool and targeting the financial services industry, but the average attack size has fallen steadily during the past three quarters, and the portion of attacks greater than 100Gbps fell 89% year-on-year during the quarter. The report also shows there was a 30% year-on-year decrease in total DDoS attacks during the quarter, with infrastructure layer attacks declining 28%.