iCache helps to reduce bandwidth wastage

Internet service providers (ISPs) and their customers are at risk from cyber-attacks. Trojans are being left behind for unsuspecting web surfers, and Internet-based security risks are escalating.

With internet video becoming increasingly popular and accounting for more than 70% of the total traffic on the network backbone, bandwidth usage is reaching its limits.

A software solution has been launched that will enable ISPs to provide their customers with better control of the web sites their staff surf and to better allocate and save on bandwidth usage. The software follows user surfing habits to enable customers to monitor bandwidth usage and wastage.

iCache from Huawei Symantec employs multiple energy-saving technologies such as soft-start disks, automatic disk spin-down and intelligent fan controlling, to assist ISPs with ‘green’ adherence.

“iCache is a traffic caching solution that reduces repetitive and inter-network traffic and provides statistics and analyses on network behaviour,” said Shabir Satar, product manager at Huawei Symantec.

“The software caches mass Internet content to the ISP according to user behaviour, increasing user download speeds and improving ISP service efficiency, thereby easing up bandwidth. iCache will help save up to 70% of peer-to-peer video bandwidth. In essence, it holds in cache commonly-used data that when accessed does not need to be re-downloaded.”

In terms of cyber-attacks, customers accessing information online pose unique challenges to ISPs. Online access increases the vulnerability of the network. Hackers focus on remote terminals and mobile users to infiltrate core business services.

In this way, data can be intercepted or damaged, core services interrupted and malicious viruses spread – compromising company information.

“To defend against increasingly complex security attacks, orginaisations are required to deploy multiple types of terminal management products. However, as these products are unrelated to each other, deploying them in a network is difficult. Procurement costs are high and there are compatibility issues. In terms of network security, network architectures are complex and difficult to maintain,” said Satar.