Sirocom helps Visa become Wireless

Card payment giant Visa International is first to adopt VNO's Wireless Workspace service

Virtual Network Operator (VNO) Sirocom has revealed that payments powerhouse Visa International has become the first to adopt its Wireless Workspace service.

Sirocom, which was acquired by Azzurri Communications earlier this year (CRN, 6 November), developed Wireless Workspace as part of its Siroconnect offering, to provide firms with wireless connectivity without compromising the integrity of the corporate network.

Visa International will roll out the service to its employees, contractors, customers and guests at its central and eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) office in London.

Andrew Vorster, head of technology services for Visa CEMEA said: “With over 50 per cent of our workforce mobile, we’re always on the look-out for ways to increase and simplify connectivity. Using Siroconnect we’ve access to over 108,000 access points worldwide – our employees take it for granted that they can get connected, wherever they are.”

“Until now though, deploying WiFi in the most obvious place, our own offices, was unthinkable. We couldn’t risk the security implications, but the lack of access was inconvenient for visitors – some employees resorted to hosting meetings in the local coffee shop so that contractors and partners could log-on to their respective networks,” he added.

Barrie Desmond, director of business development at Sirocom said: “Internet abuse is a real problem for any company that, with all good intentions, opens up its network to third party users. Previously you’ve had to either rely on common sense and good will, or apply stringent security policies that severely restrict usage.”