Complete network and security service now available for BT’s UK business and public sector customers – supporting hybrid working, digital retail and other multi-site business use casesDesigned to protect businesses connecting multiple devices and locations, the new secure network service combines Software-Defined Wide-Area Network (SD-WAN) and Software-Defined Branch (SD-Branch) through a secure firewall and network equipment from Fortinet with the convenience of an all-in-one managed service from BTLaunch extends BT’s portfolio of SD-WAN services and builds on existing longstanding partnership between BT and Fortinet
BT today announced that it has launched a new all-in-one network and security service, supported by industry-leading Fortinet technology to transform the way businesses manage connectivity across multiple locations.
The launch enables BT’s UK business and public sector customers to connect SD WAN, SD Branch and security in one place, fully managed by BT’s team of experts, as well as reducing cyber risk and supporting customers moving data and applications to the cloud. It’s ideal for supporting digital transformation, as companies embrace hybrid working and provide better experiences for staff, including clearer video calls. The service is built specifically to help retailers better meet customer demand, whether online with a larger website reliability during peak trading events like Black Friday, or in person through services like click-and-collect or technology infrastructure pop up shops.
It’s a move that sees BT building on that existing long-term agreement with Fortinet, the global cybersecurity leader, to expand its managed broad and local enterprise network portfolio by incorporating Fortinet’s Secure SD Branch technology.
BT’s new managed secure network service is designed to meet large-scale, complex network requirements and enables BT to expertly manage networks on behalf of a customer 24 hours a day. This service also includes reporting dashboards that give security teams full visibility into their network.
As more businesses embrace the benefits of working digitally, the government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that 32% of businesses had experienced a cyber-attack in the past 12 months*. BT’s expanded partnership with Fortinet will strengthen its wide-area networks and internal connectivity, making them even more resilient as the transition to Software-as-a-Service cloud applications continues.
The technology enables UK-based organizations of all sizes to improve the performance of business applications including Microsoft Teams, SAP or Salesforce. It ensures a high-quality user experience, even across multiple locations, while offering the flexibility and cost benefits of a hybrid network. Customers can also connect any combination of physical and virtual devices to their network – expanding the network to get closer to the applications and data that matter to them.
Ashish Gupta, MD Corporate and Public Sector at BT, said: “At BT, we know that complex network requirements should not mean compromising on security or flexibility. Our new partnership with Fortinet on software-defined branch networking shows that you can combine both: enabling reliable, secure connectivity within and across multiple locations, all securely managed by BT. We are already seeing strong customer interest with a number of contracts won and commissioned.
“Fortinet continues to be an important cybersecurity partner, delivering secure, flexible and highly reliable services that enable our customers to deliver brilliant results.”
Paul Anderson, Vice President UK & Ireland at Fortinet, added: “We have been working with BT for over a decade and as a highly accredited Expert-level Fortinet partner, we are delighted that BT offers solutions that combine our award-winning integrated industry technology with their award-winning expertise in managed networks and security services.
“In a post-pandemic world with relentless pressure on workforces, budgets and an increasingly complex threat landscape, customers are seeking help to safely evolve their organizations and meet rapidly changing business challenges. By choosing BT and Fortinet, they can rest assured that they are in safe hands on all fronts.”
ENDS
Notes to the editor
* Statistics from the 2023 Cyber Security Breaches Survey Cybersecurity Breach Investigation 2023 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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