IT directors are increasingly looking to install
physical security such as biometrics and card readers to protect
their IP networks.
A survey of 100 companies conducted by Vanson Bourne for IT
service provider Comunica reveals 64% of users have already adopted
or plan to adopt physical security over IP networks in 2006.
According to the survey, a quarter of large businesses with over
3,000 employees have already adopted security over IP, and 48% are
planning to implement it this year, but only 16% of smaller
business have adopted physical security measures so far.
The financial sector has taken the lead in implementing the
technology, with 31% having deployed it already and 38% planning to
do so in 2006, which will take the total to 69%.
A quarter of the IT directors interviewed from the retail,
distribution and transport sector were very positive about physical
security over IP. A quarter had already adopted it and 52% expected
to do so in the next 12 months.
Some 43% of IT directors from manufacturing companies planned to
implement measures in the next 12 months.
Putting in place physical security measures have benefits over
and beyond protecting IT systems. Rick Marshall, managing director
of Comunica, said, "Investment in IP-based security will be
future-proofed as it will also allow other systems, such as lifts,
lighting, energy and other building management systems, to be
managed over the IP network as they become IP-based."