SBC Communications Introduces IP-Based Surveillance for Business Continuity

SBC Communications Inc. has announced the availability of a new Internet Protocol (IP)-based solution for remote monitoring of business network equipment and other critical information technology infrastructure.

The SBC IP Surveillance solution allows businesses to monitor equipment at multiple sites from a centralized location, enabling customers to ensure that network issues are rapidly detected and rectified even at remote locations that do not have regular IT staffing. The solution is highly flexible to meet a range of monitoring needs, providing such options as IP video surveillance as well as the ability to detect anomalies, such as extreme temperatures or humidity, power spikes, fluid and certain chemicals.

"Asset protection is a high priority for many organizations today, as businesses increasingly depend on networks and IT infrastructure to maintain day-to-day operations," said Mark P. Fishler, vice president, SBC Product Management. "At the same time, network and IT equipment is often spread out among multiple locations, and it is often impractical to have on-site staff to monitor and manage equipment at every site. The SBC IP Surveillance solution is designed to provide a highly efficient and cost-effective alternative for these types of businesses."

The SBC family of companies is the first telecommunications company to deliver an IP-based monitoring solution incorporating NetBotz technology. The solution is available today for customers in 19 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

The SBC solution can combine IP cameras with many combinations of motion detectors, temperature sensors, power surge detectors, humidity sensors, fluid detectors, particle sensors, door sensors, and other detection equipment based on specialized customer requirements for larger spaces, such as data centers or manufacturing floors, or small spaces, such as equipment closets and server rooms. The solution automatically alerts authorized individuals of potential problems through a variety of methodologies, including e-mail, SNMP (simple network management protocol), HTTP POST, telephone or pager. Customers can deploy the right mix of monitoring and alert options to meet their specific, unique business needs.

SBC is online at www.sbc.com.