VMworld: VMware Unveils AppDefense Virtual Infrastructure Security -

VMware has launched the VMware AppDefense security solution at the VMworld 2017 conference in Las Vegas. With AppDefense, MSSPs can build new data center and cloud security offerings, according to VMware.

AppDefense secures applications running on virtualized or cloud environments, VMware said in a prepared statement. It uses a virtual infrastructure to monitor running applications against their intended state, VMware noted, and can detect and automate response to attacks that attempt to manipulate these apps.

In addition, integrations with third-party solutions are available that enable VMware partners to use AppDefense's app visibility and response orchestration capabilities, the company said. Confirmed AppDefense integrations include:

Carbon Black: AppDefense will leverage Carbon Black reputation feeds to help organizations safeguard virtual environments.

IBM Security: AppDefense will be integrated with IBM's QRadar security analytics platform to help security teams understand and respond to advanced and insider threats across both on-premises and cloud environments.

Puppet: Puppet Enterprise IT infrastructure automation capabilities are integrated with AppDefense to provide visibility and insight into the desired configuration of virtual machines (VMs).

RSA: The RSA NetWitness Suite of cyber threat protection solutions will be interoperable with AppDefense to deliver application context within an organization's virtual data center, response automation and orchestration and visibility into app attacks.

SecureWorks: SecureWorks is developing a solution that leverages AppDefense to provide security detection, validation and response capabilities across an organization's virtual environment.

Still, two of those five integrations involve VMware sister companies. VMware parent Dell EMC owns RSA, and SecureWorks was a Dell spin-off.

AppDefense is now available to U.S. organizations using the VMware vSphere 6.5 virtualization platform. It is priced as a subscription at $500 per CPU per year.

VMware Returns to Growth

AppDefense may drive VMware's push into the managed security services market, along with help the company further accelerate its earnings growth.

VMware posted earnings growth in the fiscal 2018 second quarter earlier this month, and some of the company's financial results during the time frame included:

Total revenue of $1.9 billion, up 12.2 percent year over year.

License revenue of $732 million, an increase of 13.7 percent year over year.

Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net income of $0.81 per diluted share, compared to $0.62 per diluted share one year earlier.

VMware is transitioning from a compute virtualization company to a business that offers "a broad portfolio of products driving efficiency and digital transformation," CEO Pat Gelsinger said in a prepared statement. Key product offerings include NSX (for network virtualization), vSAN (for storage virtualization) and the newly launched VMware Cloud on AWS, which partners like Presidio have been testing.

Going forward, VMware will explore ways to help organizations run, manage, secure and connect their apps across clouds and devices, Gelsinger stated.