New challenges emerge in IT security
While IT security risks have long existed, the recent U.S. National Security Agency surveillance debacle has created new fears. News sources and industry insiders continue to point to famed whistleblower Edward Snowden when addressing topics related to secure hosting and IT security. IT World Canada editor Howard Solomon recently explored the new reality of IT security noting that security and network teams need to constantly be looking over their shoulders.
“Hardly a day goes by when we don’t handle an IT security-related story — hacking, spear-phishing, network intrusions, the NSA/CIA/CSEC … It’s a long list,” Solomon wrote. “So you hardly expect that network security teams are on the endangered list.”
Actually, quite the opposite is true. TEKsystems Network Services recently released the results of its survey conducted in honor of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which found a serious shortage of skilled IT security professionals. In fact, of the IT and business leaders surveyed, half believe that the lack of qualified IT security talent is reaching “a state of critical mass” that would put organizations at risk of being vulnerable to attacks. Furthermore, a shockingly small 15 percent reported being very confident in having necessary security skills to handle the many emerging threats.
Growing IT security complexities
The TEKsystems Network Services survey also unearthed a number of interesting trends regarding the complexity of secure server establishment. For instance, more than 60 percent of respondents indicated that the growing complexity and scope of IT security makes it increasingly difficult for their respective organizations to contend with security demands.
“It is essential that organizations continually evolve their security strategies to keep pace with the changing ecosystem, yet IT is too bogged down by tactical activities,” the source stated. “The majority of respondents indicate that their information security teams are too busy handling tactical, day-to-day work to spend the adequate amount of time on critical strategic information security initiatives.”
One way that ecosystems are becoming increasingly complex is through the integration of software-defined networking (SDN) and other virtualization technology. Solomon noted that Network Computing columnist Michele Chubirka recently argued that the switch to software and virtualization will require IT security professionals to adapt, as secure servers will begin to increasingly manage the functions that security professionals would formerly handle, such as switch configuration and the maintenance of intrusion protection appliances.
However, there will still be a need for security on the physical layer in addition to the virtual layer. This means that while IT security teams will likely need to adjust daily processes, they aren’t expected to be replaced by automation any time soon.
Good that we show content we’re quoting is credible here and the link to the TEKSystems survey. Maria: Does this impact SEO?
However, there will still be a need for security on the physical layer in addition to the virtual layer. This means that while IT security teams will likely need to adjust daily processes, they aren’t expected to be replaced by automation any time soon.
Good that we show content we’re quoting is credible here and the link to the TEKSystems survey. Maria: Does this impact SEO?
About the author:
Brain Brafton loves and lives technology. A big data geek and an information retrieval junkie he consumes, analyses, interprets and process data like he was a machine. On a continual learning iteration he believe life is a journey not a destination. To keep in contact with Brain find him on Twitter