Business Security - Protect Data & Accelerate Growth

Author: Cheryl D. Krivda

February 2009

Not long ago, business data required constant protection from external access. Those days are gone.

To succeed in today’s networked environment, organizations must be prepared to share information internally, as well as with partners, customers and sometimes even competitors.

Creating a secure environment in which companies can share data places a burden on existing IT infrastructures. CIOs and IT managers understand the challenges of basing enterprise growth on open, networked communications. In a recent survey conducted by IDC Research Services Group, 350 respondents identified their top three data security concerns:

#1.  External attempt to harvest data - 66% of respondents

#2.  Exposing sensitive data to unauthorized users - 60% of respondents

#3.  Accidental losses of devices and data by employees - 59% of respondents

(Source: IDC Research Services Group, 2007)

Protecting against traditional and next generation threats demands new strategies for business security. Clearly, traditional protection solutions – those designed to limit access by building an IT fortress around corporate data – are no longer appropriate to meet today’s business needs.

How can executives take steps to manage security within the confines of today’s collaborative business and IT requirements?

They must deploy sophisticated solutions that protect corporate data assets without compromising business opportunities for growth. To do so, security solutions must:

–    Accelerate and maximize business opportunities while maintaining maximum security.  Ideally, the right solution will define enterprise security, establish policies to enhance security, enforce policies, and manage efforts and measure compliance. And of course, remain in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, SEC requirements and industry-specific mandates such as Basel II (Finance) and HIPAA (Healthcare).

–    Securely open the business for growth. Making assets secure yet inaccessible will hinder innovation and growth. Enterprises need solutions to help them design and implement a security strategy that supports their unique needs, while allowing them to differentiate product and service offerings. Organizations require innovative approaches for information sharing.

–    Move to security by default. Protection includes security prevention, detection and response. Data protection must address external threats, ranging from spam to industrial espionage, as well as internal breeches that may compromise confidential customer data, valuable research and development information, and proprietary production or manufacturing. With so much at stake and so many security issues to address, businesses must automate and streamline security efforts to make them manageable and affordable.

Protecting Enterprise Data Assets with CBTS & Sun Security Solutions

To meet your business goals, you must work with an experienced provider that offers the products and services you need to protect your IT and data assets. Sun Microsystems, a market leader in enterprise business security, has the expertise to help you succeed in this mission.

CBTS and Sun can help you plan, deploy, manage and monitor enterprise security projects.

Contact Tammy Burns at 513. 841.5069 or an Account Manager for a complimentary consultation today – we’re right here, where and when you need us!

By Cheryl D. Krivda, InfoWorld Media Group, sponsored by Sun Microsystems, Inc.