Telefónica Tech UK&I has launched 'NextDefense', a brand of cyber security services intended to guide customers towards a digitally secure future. The key goal of NextDefense is to focus on the next generation of Managed Security Services (MSS) and use Telefónica Tech's global network of Security Operations Centres (SOCs), according to a statement. The aim is to provide proactive security that can stay one step ahead of the constantly changing threat landscape.

This new service is being offered in the UK and Ireland, and leverages Telefónica Tech's substantial resources for providing proprietary threat intelligence. The company's global network of SOCs, which include a SOC in Belfast, employs more than 6,300 professionals, holds over 4,000 third-party technology certifications, and is backed by cutting-edge technology. This enables NextDefense to deliver automation-driven standardised procedures on a large scale.

NextDefense provides continuous monitoring, rapid threat detection, and effective incident response services to companies. This service assists businesses in developing a comprehensive security strategy that protects critical assets. These critical assets may include data, cloud infrastructures, endpoints, and network infrastructures.

Within the NextDefense suite, there are offerings designed with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework in mind. Some of these offerings include offensive security solutions, such as Technical Assurance and Penetration Testing, which ensure systems function as intended while maintaining robust security. The suite also encompasses services like Vulnerability Management, that proactively identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities by automatically scanning an organisation’s critical assets to detect threats, assess exposure level, and prioritise urgent remediation.

In addition to offensive security, Telefónica Tech has also incorporated Secure-by-Design/Default services within NextDefense to ensure security is ingrained in businesses from the outset. These services consist of Risk Advisory services and Secure Design Lifecycle Principles that prioritise least privilege, defence-in-depth, zero trust, and transparent security decisions.

The suite also includes state-of-the-art defensive security solutions, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR). These services provide enhanced threat detection and efficient monitoring of the customer's IT environment. Also included are Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) capabilities, that rapidly assist in the event of an incident or cyber-crisis to facilitate a quick recovery of the most valuable business processes and digital assets.

Ed Tucker, Cyber Security CTO at Telefónica Tech UK&I, mentioned, "NextDefense brings the global scale and intelligence of Telefónica Tech’s cyber operations to the UK&I market, offering organisations global reach with a local touch. We are one of the few UK MSPs that can offer a suite of cyber security services drawing upon the expertise of thousands of global experts, whilst also tailoring this to local needs. We are embarking on a new horizon of cyber security services that are secure by design and by default, charting a course towards a future where organisational resilience is built into the very fabric of our offerings”.

Telefónica Tech UK&I has significant capabilities across various sectors, including Healthcare, Government, Public Sector, Retail, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Insurance, Construction, and Professional Services. With NextDefense, Telefónica Tech UK&I continues to help organisations across these sectors reduce the risk of cyber-attacks, control the cost of their security operations, and enhance the maturity of their cyber security defences.