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Dialog, Fortinet unveil security solutions

Dialog Enterprise with Fortinet, leader in unified threat management unveiled a comprehensive enterprise Managed Security Solution (MSS) to Dialog's corporate clientele. This will help companies; especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's), manage their security risks in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

The new MSS will be offered to all Dialog Leased Line and Hosted Service customers at the Dialog Data Centre.

The solution will optimise the bandwidth of the customer Leased Line and provide a clean data pipe with maximum throughput enabling a risk free network.

Managed security solutions offer business organisations a variety of benefits depending on their business strategy and requirements and Dialog Enterprise aims to service a niche segment in the SME and corporate sector that has a need for advanced hosted security service.

One of the key advantages of this service is that it provides customers the opportunity to experience Managed Security using an outsourced model, lowering operating costs of organizations in terms of recruiting, training and retaining staff to manage an expensive security products.

In addition to the above, the solution also provides Dialog's corporate clients with a host of other security features including a hosted network, firewall to control access via the internet through access policies and hosted network IPS (Signature-based Intruder Prevention System) to defend against known threats from the internet.

It also offers web content filtering, including URL, to define the desired access based on company policies on internet browsing, Data leak Prevention and Application control mechanisms to protect enterprise data.ommenting on the launch of this new MSS, Chief Operating Officer of Dialog Broadband Networks Suren Goonewardene said the new MSS offerings provide enterprise clients with unparalleled network security enabling them to track and address potential security threats as well as obtain advice on managing potential problems in an efficient and cost-effective manner. "We are confident this new product would add much value to the local business environment, and together with Fortinet, we would look to transcend the boundaries of this sphere in our market," he said.

Dialog Enterprise has designed three packages to suit the diverse security requirements of its customer base.

The Gold package entails several special security features such as firewall, intrusion prevention system, web filtering with antivirus and remote access mechanisms features.

Asian Paints products carry lead-free guarantee

Asian Paints Lanka, said its products in Sri Lanka are now covered by a Lead-free guarantee, following a global Green initiative begun by the India-headquartered coatings giant.

The company said it had progressively moved out of paint formulations that contain lead and other potentially toxic heavy metals and switched to organic pigments in the manufacture of its products.

Asian Paints brands such as Royale Play, Royale, Ultima, Weathertuff, Classic, Permoglaze All Weather, Permoglaze Emulsions and Decora Emulsions now carry an assurance that they have no added Lead, Mercury, Arsenic or Chromium in the paint formulations, the company said.

Asian Paints' automated tinting and dispensing platform, comprising of more than 300 Colour World outlets across the island, now does not contain any added lead, the company said.

Asian Paints was the first paint manufacturer in Sri Lanka to be awarded the Sri Lanka Standard (SLS) certification for paints dispensed through Dealer Tinting Systems.

"The voluntary, groupwide initiative to move to a lead-free regime began as a corporate social responsibility commitment more than three years ago," Asian Paints' Director/General Manager in Sri Lanka Joseph L. Pulikottil said. "As a result, all our products conform to exacting international safety and quality standards."

He said the company had substituted pigments containing harmful substances with expensive synthetic organic pigments, procured from reputed global suppliers.

WORDS celebrates first year

Sri Lanka's newest Advertising Agency WORDS celebrated its first anniversary on March 1.

"Coming together because of our shared vision and values seemed to be destined to happen," Founder and Managing Director Rohan Rajaratnam said. "We were told that 2009 was not the year to start a new ad agency with nothing at all. We were told that we have slim chances of success and we were tod many other things in the same vein.

"One year later we are happy to be able to celebrate the end of a fruitful year. Nine original members of the agency, all qualified and experienced together during a time of extreme strife with the confidence and conviction that we could create something unique in the ad industry.

Expressing the gratitude of the entire team for the confidence displayed by their clients and for the support of the industry at large, Rajaratnam thanked the many individuals and organizations that play a pivotal role in the founding of the Agency.

"The encouragement we received from industry leaders and media organizations fuelled our conviction that we had a winning formula. Our faith led us to take on the challenge of starting the agency at the height of the worldwide economic turmoil, and the synergistic effect of our combined skills, coupled with sheer determination to succeed, enabled us to achieve an admirable performance in our maiden year. Elaborating on some key highlights during the past 12 months, Rajaratnam said. "Being selected as the communication partner for the Effie Awards, mere months after our inception was a high point in the year gone by.

Pears fund for childcare continues

The Pears Safe Hands fund was established in 2002 as a part of its commitment toward caring and nurturing the children of Sri Lanka. As such 25 cents from each Pears product sold is channelled to the fund to be utilised to renovate and refurbish and equip maternity and paediatric wards in needy hospitals around the country.

Pears, along with the College of Paediatricians decided to renovate Cheddikulum and Vauvniya hospitals as the latest projects of Pears Safe Hands.

The Paediatric wards of both hospitals were renovated as the 15 and 16 projects with an approximate investment of Rs. 5.4 mn.

The renovated and refurbished hospitals were handed over to the hospital authorities on March 5 and 6 with the participation of Unilever employees and hospital personnel. As a result, hundreds of mothers and babies in newly opened up areas will be benefited from the upgraded health facilities.

The initial project by the Pears Safe Hands fund was the refurbishment of the Emergency Treatment Centre and Nebulisation unit of the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital in Colombo.

Since then, 14 similar projects have been carried out around the country, including the Jaffna teaching hospital, Puttalam base hospital as well as several Tsunami effected hospitals such as Habaraduwa and Ahangama hospitals.

The work carried out by the Pears safe hands project includes renovation of maternity and children's wards, setting up of children's clinics, provision of required medical equipment, setting up of play areas to ensure that our children and mothers have access to the best possible healthcare facilities.

Union Assurance opens Tangalle branch

Union Assurance PLC strengthens its position in the Southern region with the opening of its Tangalle branch at Beach Road Tangalle. The new branch has ample parking and convenience to its customers.

General Manager Marketing and Distribution Rukman Weerarathne stated that the company intends to further strengthen its distribution in the Southern region by opening new branches.

He further stated that the Southern region has immense potential due to the fact that there are a huge amount of infrastructure developments taking place in the region.

The key highlight of the branch opening was that the Union Assurance staff members from the northern region taking part in this event. Members from the Point Pedro and Jaffna branches welcomed colleagues in the southern region creating new links.

"We at Union Assurance is proud to have been helping to meet the financial needs of our island for more than 22 years and commitment to keep on continuously improving our service and facilities.

The layout of the new branch is designed to help facilitate service needs and transactions for our customers, Weerarathne said.

"Union Assurance sales and marketing culture strives to increase efficiency and ensure customers are able to easily and conveniently take care of their insurance needs both in Life and General".

Union Assurance PLC is one of the largest insurance companies in Sri Lanka, powered by the corporate might of John Keells Holdings PLC.