Preparing for virtualization security unknowns

Per usual, security is an afterthought, which is a huge problem. Virtualization changes the definition of servers and data centers. As opposed to physically distinct servers connected over a network (that can presumably be secured or monitored), a virtual environment is an isolated, self-contained "data center in a box," and when all the process-to-process communications that have happened over a network in the past are instead happening inside a single IT enclosure, there's no doubt that security ramifications will be significant.

The fact is that no one knows how much virtualization is going to upend the 15 years of work the industry has invested to build defenses for systems and applications. In order to grasp the situation, it's important to understand that security functions are different in a virtualized world.

To again be cle

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We'll see new software pricing models emerge as a result of virtualization.

There may very well be early answers to some of these issues. I know there are a lot of smart folks figuring them out and bringing new products to market to solve problems.

But until the key issues are outlined, it's important to work with the data center folks in your organization to figure out what the virtualization security plan should be for your environment. The road to virtualization will be fun -- the "I am feeling a bit woozy and about to puke because I just got off of a roller coaster" type of fun.

About the author
Mike Rothman is president and principal analyst of Security Incite, an industry analyst firm in Atlanta, and the author of The Pragmatic CSO: 12 Steps to Being a Security Master. Rothman is also SearchSecurity.com's expert-in-residence on information security management. Get more information about the Pragmatic CSO at http://www.pragmaticcso.com, read his blog at http://blog.securityincite.com, or reach him via e-mail at mike.rothman (at) securityincite (dot) com.

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