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SECURITY BEST PRACTICE: INTEGRATING I.T. AND PHYSICAL SECURITY
Everything it seems is moving to digital, and organizations are evolving to more efficiently manage processes that had previously been invisible to the network.
In its latest Global IT survey, CIO & CSO magazine and PriceWaterhouseCoopers note more companies than ever are integrating their physical and information security departments. In fact 75% of the 7791 survey respondents reported some integration of the two disciplines, up from 53% the year earlier. With the two combined, "fewer laptops may be lost, and if they are lost or stolen, that combination should make gaining access to the data stored in them nearly impossible."
The report quotes Jason Spaltro, executive director of information security for Sony Pictures Entertainment: "In today's environment of IP-based control devices, cameras and other security sensors, the physical aspect is becoming more and more of an IT issue." It stands to reason that lost laptops and the resulting data breach potential makes laptop theft a problem affecting everyone in security. The fourth edition of The Global State of Information Security published last fall also reports on what industries do the best job and which need help. Among the industries "that are highly regulated and entrusted with securing private information: government, health care, education and finance, the financial services sector leads the way in employing best practices." The reason these companies have better results and behave more proactively is obvious, the report says, given the product involved is money, and money is the prime target of cybercriminals. On the other end of the spectrum, Education lags the farthest behind in the report's key indicators, and suffers more negative security events than the average of all respondents worldwide. Read the whole report » END USER AWARENESS TRAINING MINIMIZES INSIDER THREATS  What's the old saying, "instead of giving a hungry person some tuna, teach him/her how to fish"? Not an exact quote to be sure, but undisputed is the idea that knowledge = power, including the power to self police one's own computing practices. Many experts agree that companies are getting better at guarding against outside threats, but employees and "trusted vendors" also put companies at risk. "We believe if we increase our user awareness, we could be able to minimize the insider threat," says Ken Watson, USG director of IT risk management as quoted recently on Darkreading.com. When was the last time you taught or attended a security awareness class? In a recent survey by Information Security Magazine, 43% of the nearly 500 survey respondents say educating end users will be very important this year. In a recent article, Darkreading.com listed end user training as one of the top 10 most overlooked aspects of security. According to Dark Reading, "Some of the worst security problems originate from stupid things end users do, from the seemingly obvious no-no of opening attachments from strangers, to connecting to the closest WiFi connection while on the road." (Can we add not locking down your laptop?). "Training therefore is a critical but often overlooked element of your security strategy." "More frequent security reminders are needed in a way that is understood by the end user," says Todd Fitzgerald, systems security officer for United Government Services. "Security awareness training should be more 'in your face' and 'real,' with things like posters, computer based training, compliance tracking, and face-to-face interactive training. The key to a good training program is identifying your audience and the level of training they need to do their job. End users and technical staffers each require different types of training goals, so be sure you're fashioning it properly for each group." Read the Dark Reading article » See the Information Security Magazine article » NEW PRESET AND RESETTABLE COMBO LOCKS FROM PC GUARDIAN  On the heels of releasing the Master Coded Combo Lock, PC Guardian announces the availability of two more Combo Locks: The PC Guardian Ezolution™ Preset Combo Lock, and the Ezolution™ Resettable Combo Lock. "These additions complete the full range of administrative options in our new combination locks that were previously only available for keyed systems," said Inka Traktman, PCG's VP of Product Development and Marketing. Equipped with added features and functionality, both new Combo Locks represent the best-in-class engineering customers have come to expect from PC Guardian.
NEW PC GUARDIAN LOCKING SOLUTIONS GAINING TRACTION  Earlier this year, PC Guardian released two patent pending locking systems never before seen on the market: A Master Coded Combination Lock and the USB Port Security System. Each system promised advanced capability to solve security issues for a wide range of organizations. Recently, our intrepid newsletter reporter walked down the hall and spoke with PCG sales director, Heide Stevenson, to find out how the new locking systems were being received. PCG News: Heide, tell us first about the Master Coded Combo: who's buying it, how are they using it, and what are they saying about it? Heide: We're seeing high interest levels for the MC Combo across the corporate world especially in the finance and insurance industries. Security admins say they like not having to manage keys and they like the Two-Factor Authentication feature. Before, if a master key was misplaced, they would have to change out all the locks. That's not the case with the ComboGenie since an Administrator Code is also needed to open the MCC locks. Plus, our customers love new gadgets, and the "wow" factor that comes with the ComboGenie impresses their co-workers. There's just not anything like it on the market right now. PCG News: How about the USB Port Security System; what's the story there? Heide: The USB Port Security System is doing very well for us in the federal government sector. Buyers include almost every branch of the military, as well as related companies that serve as defense contractors. Customers say the USB Port Lock works because it effectively secures their USB Ports without a lot of implementation time. They prefer a hardware solution because they can see the lock is in place, and don't have to worry if users are bypassing system settings to get to USB ports. PCG News: Thanks Heide for making time for us, and keep up the good work! See the USB lock, and the Master Coded Combo Lock details. |
QUICK LINKS www.pcguardian.com Contact Us COLLEGE DATA BREACHES ON THE RISE So far in 2007, 1/3 of all data breaches are due to computer theft. ¼ of all data breaches involve colleges and universities— a 58% increase from last year.* *Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2007 PC GUARDIAN WINS EXCELLENCE AWARD PC Guardian's 2900 series of push button cable locks received the most votes from customers, vendors, and end users as the best physical security product of 2007. Votes were tallied by independent web publisher Info Security Products Guide. PC GUARDIAN PRICE LIST NOW AVAILABLE Effective June 1st, PC Guardian prices have changed. Download a PDF of our latest MSRP price list. PC NEW USER FEATURE Check out PC Guardian's recently upgraded free online administration tool. Authorized admins who register their locks and combos online can:
ABOUT PC GUARDIAN PC Guardian is a leading designer and manufacturer of computer and data security solutions for corporations, resellers and distributors. Protecting corporate assets with patented, award winning products since 1984, PC Guardian successfully serves a wide range of businesses, including many Fortune 1,000 companies, by solving their security needs and ensuring compliance through innovative products, quality, integrity, and commitment to exceptional service and results. |
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