Opinion

Opinion

IT security

• Licensing: Do not become a target

  Beware licence complications of second-hand software, says Quentin Archer.  Continue Reading

• Your shout: Security is everyone's responsibility, e-recycling

  Computer Weekly readers have their say.  Continue Reading

• No jobs for the bad boys

  Can there ever be such a person as an ex-hacker?, asks Mark Hanvey  Continue Reading

• A question of quality

  It is good to see Oracle's chief security officer, Mary-Ann Davidson, admit that the IT industry's biggest challenge is software quality. With users needing masses of patches to manage, the industry is at the bottom of the curve of software quality,...  Continue Reading

• Polishing up the act

  The new Companies Act will affect firms to different degrees but makes proper data management essential, says Jon Fell  Continue Reading

• Tiers are not enough

  Everyone seems to want a tiered storage architecture but the correct approach is essential to business efficiency, says Geoff Hough  Continue Reading

• Storage and security

  Keeping data stored safely means finding a balance between accessibility, protection and staying within the law, says Correy Voo  Continue Reading

• SOA: Beware IT balkanisation

  Service-oriented architectures raise security issues, says Jean-Noël Ezingeard  Continue Reading

• Making a habit of strong security

  There is a lot of talk about creating a security culture in the workplace, but for most IT departments it is a tough job to get users across the organisation to understand why it is important, to put it into practice and, even more important, to ...  Continue Reading

• Think modular for effective recovery plans

  There is no one-size-fits-all business continuity strategy, so think of disaster recovery scenarios as modules that can be invoked depending on the situation, says Josh Krischer  Continue Reading

• Let's sort the bugs before we get regulated

  Developers need to focus on decreasing risk in new releases to an acceptable level. Rather than tackle every single flaw the most risky areas should be addressed first, says Sarah Saltzman  Continue Reading

• Need for testing limits value of automation as IT managers look to accelerate patching

  Worms and viruses that exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities are appearing faster and faster, prompting IT departments to install security patches at an ever greater speed.  Continue Reading

• Continuity plans are going public

  Once, business continuity was a matter between a company and its shareholders.  Continue Reading

• Virtualisaton key to service improvement in next phase of datacentre consolidation

  Datacentres are going through various stages of consolidation. Driven by the development of technology and the need to contain costs and improve services, the system infrastructure has become more resilient, more available and more secure.  Continue Reading

• High cost of ignorance

  Over the past couple of months I have attended a series of roundtables with IT managers, talking about asset management. They revealed that one of the biggest barriers to them taking greater control over their software assets was a lack of board ...  Continue Reading

• Overanxious or underinsured?

  The problem with business continuity planning is the third word in that phrase. All the planning in the world is pointless if the reality fails to match when things go pear-shaped.  Continue Reading

• European 'no' to software patent directive leaves doors open to protection of new ideas

  Software can still be patented as long as certain conditions are met  Continue Reading

• The devil is in the data

  The value of mergers or acquisitions can be reduced if data migration is not sorted out before completion  Continue Reading

• New approach to aid security management

  Data extraction software can provide comprehesive view of corporate systems.  Continue Reading

• Model-based automation can help users keep pace with changing security demands

  Setting up automated systems that respond to events can improve adaptability  Continue Reading

• Know your risks

  Speed is vital to assess and manage swiftly changing risks and meet regulatory demands. A matrix-based approach can offer a faster route than traditional, bottom-up methods  Continue Reading

• When IT should come last

  A new approach is needed to avert public sector failure  Continue Reading

• Classes of service won't guarantee quality of service in the brave new world of MPLS

  What every business should know before deploying Wan connectivity technology  Continue Reading

• US card fiasco is a warning for all

  The security breach which exposed the full personal and banking details of 40 million MasterCard, Visa and other card holders should act as a wake-up call to us all.  Continue Reading

• DPM's diary: CP bound

  The first hot weather of the year sees the return of a few old challenges to the department.  Continue Reading

• A CIOstands up for openness

  Steve Lamey, chief information officer at the newly merged HM Revenue and Customs, has set himself the task of removing major inefficiencies. He has discovered, for example, that staff in each of the UK's 72 tax offices do things differently.  Continue Reading

• Reliability and performance testing is the only way to guarantee quality of service

  If you want a successful IP network, test it before, during and after implementation  Continue Reading

• Cybercrime fight under-funded as millions 'wasted' on software piracy convictions

  National Hi-Tech Crime Unit should give piracy a lower priority  Continue Reading

• Your shout: Skills, security and communications

  Have your say at computerweekly.com  Continue Reading

• Developers should be encouraged to write security into the code for new applications

  Securing applications is as important as securing systems but is often overlooked  Continue Reading

• Don't become a sitting duck

  IT departments are fighting an increasingly fraught battle to keep their systems free of security vulnerabilities  Continue Reading

• Information security: Seeing the big picture

  Information security is about securely bringing together the organisation's two most important assets - information and people.  Continue Reading

• Your shout: Security and skills

  Have your say at computerweekly.com  Continue Reading

• Combine to beat crime

  The IT industry must work together to do more to protect itself and help the police bring cybercriminals to justice  Continue Reading

• Identify security gaps

  A three-step process will let you bridge the divide between your current security regime and a more robust system  Continue Reading

• Babies and bathwater

  Throwing away your spam filter so it cannot prevent crucial messages reaching your inbox rather misses the point  Continue Reading

• Join the programme

  InfoSecurity Forum standard will help firms draft a comprehensive best-practice plan of action for security  Continue Reading

• Defining the real spyware

  Some anti-spyware products may leave you no better off  Continue Reading

• Plug-and-play perils

  Portable data storage may be convenient, but pen-sized high-capacity devices are becoming the latest threat  Continue Reading

• Lock up data or lose it

  Confidential data leakage can be devastating, but the cause is often ignorance rather than malicious intent  Continue Reading

• Guide spells out key risks of Basel 2

  A guide about the forthcoming Basel 2 code on risk management has been published by consultancy BearingPoint.  Continue Reading

• Make suppliers take responsibility

  In a further extract from his book, computer security expert Bruce Schneier looks at where to apply pressure to improve products  Continue Reading

• There will always be 'must have' security - but can you identify the 'don't need'?

  The first step to managing risk is to identify the dangers to your organisation  Continue Reading

• Take the initiative on security certification to meet the demands of corporate partners

  Signing up to security standards such as BS7799 could ease pressure on SMEs, says Arthur Barnes  Continue Reading

• Your shout: Patents, careers and project management

  Have your say at computerweekly.com  Continue Reading

• Don't let test data open a security loophole

  Using real business data to test new applications is vital, but take precautions, says David Chalmers  Continue Reading

• Speak up to beat cybercriminals

  Hats off to the police National Hi-Tech Crime Unit for foiling the £220m attempted e-raid on Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui in the...  Continue Reading

• Your shout: ID cards, spam and security

  Have your say at computerweekly.com  Continue Reading

• Independent assessment is needed to stop NPfIT becoming yet another IT disaster

  Shadow health minister states Conservative position on national IT programme  Continue Reading

• Dear diary… this entry may be libellous

  IT managers need to be aware of the dangers of employees keeping web logs, says Nick Chronias  Continue Reading

• IT should take the lead on Sarbanes-Oxley

  US financial reporting law can be used as a catayst for better management, says Ashley Braganza  Continue Reading

• SMBs' real risk of being online

  Stuart King CISSP, is responsible for online security and risk assessment for the Reed Elsevier Group.  Continue Reading

• The skills of IT architects provide the foundation for business success

  A sound architecture involves both strong technology and a professional approach, says Allen Brown  Continue Reading

• Top four pitfalls of BPO

  Relationships are key to business process outsourcing, says Michael Hyltoft  Continue Reading

• Building a win-win deal

  Trust is key to successful outsourcing partnerships, says John Creber  Continue Reading

• Is variable reponse the key to secure systems?

  Variable detection and prevention is only way to let users in and keep intruders out, says Phil Cracknell  Continue Reading

• Ending the age of the password

  IT directors face the constant challenge of giving the business enough flexibility to access IT however, wherever and whenever...  Continue Reading

• Regulators to lessen pain of exporting data

  Data protection law is a continuing headache for international businesses. The 1997 EU Data Protection Directive even applies to...  Continue Reading

• Get the doctors on board - or fail

  One simple maxim should be pinned on the wall of the project management office of any major IT development: No matter how elegant...  Continue Reading

• Capacity for change

  Over the years storage has very much been the poor relation, something purchased as a server add-on. However, now it is important...  Continue Reading

• Firms can be brought to book for illegal images on their systems

  Companies are liable for all illegal images stored by staff, says Dave McLoughlin  Continue Reading

• Crime is no private affair

  The police must not leave firms to fend for themselves, says Richard Starnes  Continue Reading

• Rise of the digital mafia

  Collaboration key to beating professional e-criminals, says Pete Simpson  Continue Reading

• Politics and IT: a difficult mix

  The dangers of mixing politics and IT projects are clearly illustrated by the reaction of ministers and senior civil servants to...  Continue Reading

• FOI: a licence to snoop?

  IT firms must beware of rivals seeking to exploit law, says Renzo Marchini  Continue Reading

• Prepare to free your information

  The past few years have seen a raft of corporate governance regulations aimed at making company dealings more transparent. And...  Continue Reading

• Define IT risks to the company to comply with new business continuity legislation

  The board will be legally required to protect the business from known risks, says Marcus Hill  Continue Reading

• IT challenges for 2005

  Wise CIOs are preparing for economic uncertainty, says Ben Booth  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: The fight against fraud

  2005 is set to be a critical year for criminal activity, says Peter Dorrington  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Human factor is key to wireless security

  As increasing numbers of firms allow at least some of their staff to use wireless devices, it is important to educate the...  Continue Reading

• Thought for the Day Asking for trouble

  Thousands of ordinary users will plug into Broadband Britain this Christmas, says Simon Moores, and they haven't a hope of...  Continue Reading

• Your shout! On the problem of youth discrimination

  In response to Nick Huber's article, entitled Beware youngsters' ageism claims (Computer Weekly, 26 October)  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Virus writers enjoy public holiday releases

  Christmas comes but once a year but that will not stop the hackers, so users must ensure that all their anti-virus defences are...  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Big brother is watching

  Is the introduction of the raft of well-intentioned technological measures aimed at protecting national security going to...  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day Virus protection is easier than you think

  Simple rules can deal with most threats without the need for AV products, says Nick Scales  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Web of deceit

  The truth is out there, but disentangling it from the scams is more than Simon Moores can do.  Continue Reading

• Plan for data protection rules when moving IT work offshore

  Outsourcing deals could fall foul of EU data privacy directive.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: We know where you live

  Resist the web browser witch hunt - online crime doesn't represent anything like the same kind of threat as global terrorism,...  Continue Reading

• Multi-layered security is vital to stop new wave of day zero attacks and mobile threat

  Traditional reactionary anti-virus measures are no longer adequate for business.  Continue Reading

• Spending rise has a downside

  The Computer Weekly/Kew Associates quarterly spending survey should put a smile on everyone's face. IT spending by corporate...  Continue Reading

• Use regulations to get boardroom backing for IT security policies

  Buy-in from top is essential to build security culture, says Jon Fell  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day Create a security culture

  Staff education is vital to effective information security, writes Richard Starnes.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Thieves' charters

  Sometimes the internet goes out of its way to let other people get their hands on your intellectual property, says Simon Moores.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day The bogeyman cometh

  Don't let reasonable security concerns turn into panic-filled hysteria, says Simon Moores.  Continue Reading

• Your shout! On finding a way to report phishing scams

  In response to Malcolm Frary, who wanted to know how to report banking phishing scams (Letters, 26 October)  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: A descent into hell

  The dreams and visions that made IT and the internet a force for freedom have been transformed into a nightmare of political...  Continue Reading

• Secure state of mind

  Not surprisingly, security is one of the biggest issues facing businesses today. The threat posed by viruses, hackers and...  Continue Reading

• How to avoid the pitfalls in the small print

  Ensure you are not trapped by contracts' limited liability clauses.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: You've been Googled

  Do you really want Google to get to know you better? Simon Moores certainly doesn't  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: How to beat the sinister side of spamming

  Failure to tackle zombies can lead to company blacklisting, says Pete Simpson  Continue Reading

• Involve IT from the start to ease pain of mergers and acquisitions

  "The integration programme is on track. It is only IT that is behind." A comment along these lines usually occurs within a month...  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Safe as houses

  It has become increasingly difficult to prevent the bad guys getting hold of your credit card and bank account details.Will it...  Continue Reading

• Downtimes

  Same old chaos reigns a century from now  Continue Reading

• IT industry must have the freedom to grow

  Shadow minister for industry and technology for the Conservatives, Michael Fabricant, explains why a light touch from government...  Continue Reading

• Stop the party games with IT

  Over the past three weeks, the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Conservatives have spelt out their IT policies.  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Cybersex and the kiss of death

  By hiding trojans within the pornographic images so enthusiastically pinged around the internet, hackers have finally made...  Continue Reading

• £28bn: the cost of the 'worst case worm'

  Study assess the dameage that the worst possible electronic attack could inflict  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: At your Service (Pack2)

  The security benefits of XP SP2 are probably worth the risk of disrupting your system when you install it, says Simon Moores  Continue Reading

• Defences must be multi-layered

  Spam blights many networks, but it can be managed and blocked  Continue Reading

• Thought for the day: Organised crime sews up internet scams

  Where do we start in defending ourselves against the ever growing internet scams, asks Simon Moores  Continue Reading