Sprint IP Security Services Applications

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Applications

Businesses can use IP security services for virtually all Internet applications that handle sensitive information they would like to guard from intruders, such as credit card numbers and bank account information. Here are four major applications for IP security services with an example for each one.

E-Commerce
File Transfer
Online Banking
Remote Access

E-Commerce

This is any Internet-enabled business or online transaction, whether between businesses, consumers, or businesses and consumers. E-commerce allows businesses to improve their sales, customer service, purchasing, and billing operations.

Clothing Company Increases Sales

A catalog clothing company's sales had been decreasing steadily for several years. Hoping to attract new customers and reach a wider audience, the company decided to create a commercial Web site that would display its merchandise online and allow customers to purchase items with a credit card. The company realized that it needed a secure environment for credit card transactions, or customers would be hesitant to buy merchandise through the site.

With Sprint IP Security Services, the catalog clothing company constructed a sophisticated Web site that allows customers to purchase merchandise over the Internet without worrying about their credit card information being intercepted and stolen. When a customer places an order, the system checks the company's inventory to see if the item is in stock. If the item is out of stock, the customer can cancel, exchange, or back-order the item. Inventory information is loaded hourly from the company's mainframe, so customers always receive the most current product information. The company has increased sales and will gradually reduce the expense of producing and distributing printed catalogs.

File Transfer

File transfer is an exchange of information between computers. One of the easiest ways to transfer files is over the Internet. Users can request that information from one computer be transferred to another. File transfers are commonly used to download programs requested through a Web site or to transmit information from a content creator to the server that will host the content so that other Web users can access it.

An insurance company with offices throughout the country needed to provide its underwriters with a way to transfer large files with sensitive account information securely over the Internet.

The company designated a location on its Web site for internal file transfers. The location is protected by authentication software so that only authorized users with passwords can access the files. As a result, underwriters can access and transfer sensitive large files quickly and confidentially.

Online Banking

Online banking comprises bank transactions, such as paying bills and transferring funds, that are performed over the Internet. Online banking lets banks enhance their customer service and process transactions at reduced cost.

Bank Expands its Service Area

A bank needed to make its services readily available to customers scattered across the globe. The bank decided to introduce an online banking system that would allow customers anywhere to access the bank's services easily. The bank needed a security solution to make sure that sensitive account information could travel across the Internet securely and confidentially.

With the new online banking system, customers can go to the bank's Web site to pay bills, transfer funds, or withdraw money from accounts. They can also review loan information and credit card history. All services are completely confidential and secure. As a result, customers around the world have convenient access to the bank’s services day or night, and the bank performs transactions much more quickly and at much less cost than traditional transaction methods.

Remote Access

Remote access is access to network resources that are not physically located on the same site network topology. Remote access allows off-site employees, such as sales representatives and telecommuters, to access a company's network.

Medical Company Improves Sales Force Productivity

A medical equipment company needed to provide its mobile sales representatives with access to sensitive business and customer account information. Customers would be extremely hesitant to do business with the company if they couldn't be absolutely sure that their account information was secure.

A firewall lets the sales force have real-time, online access to core business information and important applications from the field. A sales representative who is on a sales call can access detailed customer account information on the spot. As a result, customers receive better and faster service, business deals close more quickly, and the sales force spends much less time on paperwork, improving productivity by 15 percent.