Security Management Strategies for the CIOAccess "Viewpoint: Blame software insecurity on project managers"
This article is part of the June 2007 issue of How to tell if you need the help of security integrators and consultants
Blame Begins at Top I believe Edward Adams' frustrations ("Straw House," March 2007) are misguided. The article pins the blame for security flaws on developers. I believe this is incorrect; it's not the lack of academic security training that leads software developers to write code with holes, but rather the project managers' and systems analysts' lack of security awareness. Security must always flow from the top down. Customers do not understand the importance of ensuring their products are coded securely. However, as with all too many security related activities, awareness is often not realized until it is too late. Mr. Adams' article would argue that it is the developer's job to make customers aware. I would disagree. It begins with the systems analysts who have the most contact with the customer. If these analysts were to properly communicate that specific functionality would require steps to ensure secure coding, and stood their ground to ensure software was not released until these steps had been met, today's software may no longer be the weakest link.... Access >>>
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Security services firms: When and how to choose the right consultant
Learn when to hire a security services firm, how third-party consultants can help managers, how much it should cost and how to choose the right firm.
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Product review: RedSeal Systems' RedSeal Security Risk Manager
Red Seal Security Risk Manager allows security administrators to model and manage threats to corporate assets and networks. This product review looks at how the risk management tool rates in effectiveness, ease of setup, reporting and overall quality.
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Product review: nCircle Configuration Compliance Manager
nCircle Configuration Compliance Manager brings policy compliance and secuirty management into one centralized software suite. It provides vulnerability scanning via third-party scanners such as Nessus. This product review rates the software's ease of installation, features and effectiveness.
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Product review: eEye Digital Security's Blink Professional 3.0
eEye Digital Security's Blink Professional 3.0 is a host-based multi-layered threat mitigation and intrusion prevention product for protecting Windows computers. This product reviews evalutes the software's effectiveness and management, policy control and reportinf features.
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Security services firms: When and how to choose the right consultant
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Product review: Unified threat management (UTM) devices
Unified threat management devices consolidate several network security functions into one product. This article evalutes six UTM appliances; each had to act as a firewall and virtual private network and provide antivirus, Web content filtering, intrusion prevention and antispam protection.
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SIMs maturing and suitable for mid-market
Security information management systems (SIMs) tools have expanded with more capabilities such as active threat response. The broadening of the technology will provide security managers with a sharper view of their overall security posture.
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Encryption key management blunders can render deployments useless
Encryption sounds like an ideal way to protect data but key management, including accountability, training, and enforcement of password complexity, are challenging.
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Product review: Identity Engines' Ignition Server
Identity Engines' Ignition Server manages access controls across disparate directory services platforms (Active Directory, LDAP, eDirectory) by consolidating them into a single user store.
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Product review: Unified threat management (UTM) devices
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Columns
- Viewpoint: Blame software insecurity on project managers
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PCI becoming overly complex and expensive
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) had admirable objectives but has lost its way. Today, compliance with the PCI standard is overly complex and costly.
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Interview: FDIC director explains FFIEC standard
Michael L. Jackson, associate director of the FDIC, helped develop FFIEC, which aims to make online banking safer by forcing financial institutions to assess the risks in their environments and implement controls such as strong authentication.
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Fellow practitioners are best security resources
Security professionals can reap benefits by joining a local user group or professional organization. Such groups provide a good way to network and a place to bounce ideas.
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Apply manufacturing management techniques to information security
Total Quality Management is generally known as a manufacturing technique, but its selective use is helping to improve information security.
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