Submitted by Kelsey Kusterer Ziser, the Editor of Upskill U at Light Reading

As service providers migrate traditional networks to virtualized networks, it's no longer enough to only secure the perimeter. Threats from within the network are on the rise as hackers increasingly have access to more robust, inexpensive tools for launching attacks.

Yet just as hackers have more tools at their disposal, operators' security efforts are being strengthened by machine learning and automated security measures that intelligently adapt and control the network via software-defined networking (SDN) elements. Any new security measure is only as strong as the strategies behind its deployment, and service providers are at a critical stage in re-thinking traditional network security strategies to keep pace with ever-growing and changing threats.

Beginning October 19, Light Reading, in association with Cisco, examines how service providers and data centers must shift their security strategies in light of virtualization and the growing use of open source software in a four-part series at Upskill U. During this free, online series, expert lecturers from AT&T, Tata Communications, Arbor Networks and Princeton University will address how service providers can keep pace with changing threats and take a proactive approach to network security.

Tune in to Upskill U for these exciting lectures in the Security series:

• Securing a Virtual World (Wednesday, Oct. 19, 1:00 p.m. ET): Rita Marty, Executive Director, Mobility & Cloud Security, Chief Security Office, AT&T will take a look at how securing a virtual network differs from securing a traditional network, and examine the fundamental technical and mindset changes service providers need to make as they prepare for virtualized networks.
• Security: Evolving the Data Center (Friday, Oct. 21, 1:00 p.m. ET): Rasool Kareem Irfan, Head, Telecom & Infrastructure Security Practice, Tata Communications Transformation Services Ltd., addresses how data center security can evolve alongside network transformation and meet stringent security compliances and audits.
• Security: Tackling DDoS (Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1:00 p.m. ET): Gary Sockrider, Principal Security Technologist, Arbor Networks, examines how businesses can adopt DDoS countermeasures and redesign their network topology to protect their assets.
• Security: The Plusses & Minuses of Open Source Software (Friday, Oct. 28, 1:00 p.m. ET): Nick Feamster, Acting Director, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University, explains both the risks and benefits open source software presents to security measures.

Each 45-minute live session at Upskill U includes a Q&A with speakers, and all courses are recorded and archived so listeners can tune in and reskill anytime. Don't get left in the dark -let Light Reading's Upskill U be your guiding light amidst industry-wide changes. Register today for Upskill U's Security series at www.lightreading.com/upskillu. I'll see you on the chat boards!