The security of open source software
A conversation with a client this morning revolved around software development tool alternatives in an environment of Web Socket. Why not use Flash on the client and AMF on the server side?, the client asked. I hesitated for a moment and answered – because Adobe is proprietary and closed source and the only developers looking […]
Run security like you run the business
Is there any conceivable reason why should not run your security operation like you run your core business? The sales people in your firm have sales quotas and are measured by gross profit margin and collections. The people who run manufacturing and distribution have quotas for manufacturing throughput and inventory cycle times. So why shouldn’t your […]
The psychology of data security
Over 6 years after the introduction of the first data loss prevention products, DLP technology has not mainstreamed into general acceptance like firewalls. The cultural phenomenon of companies getting hit by data breaches but not adopting technology countermeasures to mitigate the threat requires deeper investigation but today, I’d like to examine the psychology of data security […]
What is security?
So what is security anyhow? Security is not about awareness. A lot of folks talk about the people factor and how investing in security awareness training is key for data protection. I think that investing in formal security awareness training, internal advertising campaigns and all kinds of fancy booklets and cards for employees is a […]
When defense in depth fails – two deadly sins
Defense in depth is a security mantra, usually for very good military security and information security reasons. However – defense in depth may be a very bad idea, if your fundamental assumptions are wrong or you get blinded by security technology. The sin of wrong assumptions In the defense space – we can learn from […]
Why the Europeans are not buying DLP
It’s one of those things that European-based information security consultants must ask themselves at times – why isn’t my phone ringing off the hook for DLP solutions if the European Data protection directives are so clear on the requirement to protect privacy? The central guideline is the EU Data Protection Directive – and reading the […]
Wishing is not enough
This time of year I get lots of mail wishing me a good year.
More nonsense with numbers
Now it’s some lazy journalist at Information Week aiding and abetting the pseudo-statistics of of the Ponemon Institute – screaming headlines of the cost of data breaches of PHI – protected healthcare information According to Information Week; Analysis: Healthcare Breach Costs May Reach $800 Million Since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health […]
Data security breaches can wreak havoc on people’s lives
Aug 7, 2010 WASHINGTON, D.D.—U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) today introduced legislation to require businesses and nonprofit organizations that store consumers’ personal information to put in place strong security features to safeguard sensitive data, alert consumers when this data has been breached, and provide affected individuals with the […]
Data security in the cloud
It seems that with amorphous and rapidly evolving trend of storing data in cloud providers and social media like Twitter and Facebook, that social media and cloud computing is the next frontier of data security breaches. And – here, we have not even solved the problem of trusted insiders. The letter of the law is […]
