IBM has unveiled a set of IT governance and risk management products designed to help users prevent data leaks and comply with government regulations.

As part of a risk management focus, Big Blue demonstrated a suite of services called the Business of IT Dashboard, as well as its IT Lifecycle Management and Governance Services for Tivoli.

IT risk management is a broad term describing the process of controlling IT and data assets throughout their lifecycle.

It is essentially performed by linking disparate security products through a central management console. In IBM's case, the company is combining recent acquisitions such as Internet Security Systems, Consul, FileNet and Micromuse.

IT risk management is the flavour of the day in the security market. McAfee started targeting the risk management space in October by linking several of its existing products such as SiteAdvisor, Citadel and Foundstone.

Symantec, meanwhile, is addressing risk management under its Security 2.0 banner that marks the company's expansion from antivirus and online threat protection to overall data protection.

IBM, however, is also pitching its services organisation, contending that firms can achieve additional security improvements if they make security a factor in the way business processes are designed and set up.