The IBM® X-Force® research team of security experts investigates security threats, vulnerabilities and exploits to develop technologies to address tomorrow’s security challenges and deliver countermeasure technologies for today’s security problems while educating the public about emerging Internet threats.

1. IBM Security Data Sheet
Highlights
• Develops security protection that forms the foundation of
IBM Security
• Researches and analyzes security threats, vulnerabilities
and exploits
• Creates proactive countermeasure technologies
• Collaborates with leading public and private organizations
to help enhance internet security worldwide
• Educates the public about emerging threats
IBM X-Force Research
IBM X-Force helps organizations stay ahead of
emerging threats with security research
IBM® X-Force® Research provides the foundation for IBM’s preemptive
approach to Internet security. This industry-leading group of security experts
focuses on researching and evaluating vulnerabilities, threats and security
issues; developing assessments and countermeasure technology for IBM
products; and educating the public about emerging Internet threats and
trends.
The advanced security research and the threat mitigation technology that X-
Force delivers are instrumental in helping protect IBM customers from the
threat of attack. X-Force threat intelligence, combined with 24x7x365 threat
monitoring and analysis from IBM Security Services global security
operations centers, helps ensure that IBM Security customers stay ahead of
existing and emerging threats. The X-Force team:
• Maintains a comprehensive databases of known security
vulnerabilities
• Analyzes millions of malware samples each year
• Tracks billions of security incidents daily
• Monitors millions of spam and phishing attacks
• Examines billions of web pages and images
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2. Monitoring and reporting internet threats
To deliver a broad view of the threat landscape, the X-Force team
combines its own research findings with data collected from
multiple research sources, including publicly disclosed
vulnerabilities and commercial vulnerability data. The team also
monitors the underground for irresponsibly disclosed zero-day
vulnerabilities; analyzes proofs of concept and public exploit code;
and, through the expertise of the IBM Trusteer® group, analyzes
advanced malware. By monitoring global Internet threats around
the clock and updating the IBM Security AlertCon online resource
center, the X-Force team helps IBM keep stakeholders and clients
abreast of the current global Internet threat level.
IBM X-Force core components
The X-Force research and development team focuses its efforts on
four main areas: research, analytic engines, security content
delivery, and industry and customer deliverables.
• X-Force research groups are responsible for understanding
what each security issue is, how it works and how it can be
exploited.
• That intelligence then feeds into IBM Security analytic
engines to help protect customers against these threats. The
results of analytics and research are delivered through
security content updates to customers on a regular basis.
• Clients and the general public can investigate X-Force threat
intelligence through the X-Force Exchange platform, a
cloud-based threat intelligence sharing platform enabling
users to rapidly research the latest global security threats,
aggregate actionable intelligence and collaborate with peers.
• Industry and customer deliverables are widely regarded as
important to both education and decision making. They
include blogs, speaking engagements, presentations at
security conferences and original research publications such
as the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence reports, X-Force
Threat Research papers, and X-Force Topical Research
papers
Collaborating with leading organizations to enhance
threat analysis
X-Force builds and maintains one of the largest and most
authoritative vulnerability databases in the industry. Containing
over 100,000 documented vulnerabilities, the database includes
detailed analysis of every notable public vulnerability disclosure
recorded since 1994. Moreover, X-Force collaborates with
thousands of the world’s leading businesses and governments,
industry information sharing and analysis centers, and global
coordination centers, as well as other security product vendors.
Through the IBM X-Force Exchange threat intelligence platform,
IBM offers a collaborative environment for analysts, practitioners
and X-Force researchers. Using this valuable online resource,
security industry experts can work together on investigating threat
observables and indicators of compromise. By providing the ability
to collaborate in private groups and access reports on threat
activity, the platform helps streamline communications and threat
investigations.
Why IBM Security?
A preemptive security approach requires market-leading research,
a keen eye for attack trends and techniques, and a streamlined
and affordable platform for delivering advanced security solutions
that are knowledge-based. IBM Security commands the extensive
knowledge, innovative research methods and complex
technologies required to achieve preemptive security. The
experienced and certified consultants, architects, project managers
and subject matter experts at IBM are prepared to provide your
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3. organization with a comprehensive platform of preemptive security
solutions designed to protect your entire IT infrastructure, from the
network gateway to the desktop.
IBM is the trusted security advisor to thousands of the world’s
leading businesses and governments, providing ahead-of-the-
threat protection for networks, desktops and servers. IBM
understands the threats to your network and the critical balance
between performance and protection. As a result, IBM has enabled
its world-class vulnerability-based security technology to stop
Internet threats before they impact your business.
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4. For more information
To learn more about IBM X-Force, contact your IBM representative
or IBM Business Partner, or visit: ibm.com/security/xforce
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December 2016
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