IOM taps Cisco for security upgrade

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the leading inter-governmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly policies for the movement of persons across borders, has completed an upgrade of its entire security system using the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) 5520.

A security upgrade was called for because IOM’s daily operations in the Philippines depend on a stable, highly secure network that can enable an uninterrupted flow of information, with hourly reports being sent to the head office in Geneva.

IOM’s Manila operation is the information technology (IT) hub for the entire organization as well as the human resources center and accounting core of worldwide operations.

The organization also deployed Cisco Aironet wireless access points to provide its employees with greater mobility within the office.

“With the Manila office being the IT hub of the organization, which has approximately 5,600 employees deployed in over 100 countries, we cannot afford viruses and unnecessary traffic to disrupt our operations,” said Arvin Malapo, IT network and security specialist at IOM.

“We are seeing many organizations in the Philippines rely heavily on their network to help ensure smooth business operations. The network is truly the platform for these companies, and Cisco is committed to providing our customers with comprehensive solutions that not only protect their IT and business assets but also optimize IT operations, thus preparing the system for next-generation applications,” said Luichi Robles, country manager of Cisco Philippines.