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Mastering Mobile Security
12/27/2006
Step 3: Find the Magic Touch
After several false starts, biometric technology is moving from military and financial organizations into the mainstream market. Lenovo, for one, continues to enjoy growing demand for ThinkPad laptops that feature integrated fingerprint readers.
Within the next three years, I expect the vast majority of laptops to come equipped with fingerprint readers, and for good reason: Fingerprint readers will eliminate the need for students and faculty members to memorize numerous computer passwords. With the swipe of a finger, a student will be able to use his laptop to automatically log on to networks, applications, financial websites, and other services that previously required a hodgepodge of usernames and passwords.
Still, biometric technology isn’t perfect. Current fingerprint readers don’t always work as advertised; for instance, sometimes oils from a person’s skin can interfere with the readers. And some low-end readers may misidentify users based on the length and width of their fingerprints—rather than checking the fingerprints’ actual patterns.
Step 4: Master Identity Management
From CA to Novell, numerous software vendors offer identity management software. When properly configured, the software ensures that users can access only the network resources for which they are approved. For instance, identity management allows your Office of Alumni Relations to check contact information for alumni, but blocks the office members from viewing things like student transcripts.
Several Silicon Valley startups are working on new innovations. For instance, A10 Networks has developed an IP-to-ID service that allows university help desks to quickly determine network user identities. Imagine that a notebook computer is transmitting worms or viruses onto a network, or attempting to access confidential university information. Using A10’s software, the school’s help desk can match the notebook’s IP address to its user’s name. It’s similar to a police officer checking a car license plate to determine the car’s registered owner.
Step 5: Fire Your Vendors
During a recent technology conference in California, the CIO of a major university told me the most effective way to deal with security software companies is to fire them. At first I was confused. Why would you “dismiss” a company, especially if you were satisfied with its products and services?
That’s when the CIO reminded me that new customers— rather than established customers—frequently receive the deepest discounts to deploy new products. One antivirus vendor, for instance, may undercut another antivirus vendor’s price just to gain account control at your university.
But once you’ve standardized on a security platform, you no longer have multiple vendors competing with each other on price. So instead of merely renewing annual software licenses, be proactive and force vendors to compete for your business every year! Tell them they’re fired unless they return to the negotiating table and give you the same price that they offer to their new customers.
Shop around and hunt for the best solutions—year in and year out. Hackers may perpetually keep you on your t'es, but it’s time for you to keep your security partners on their t'es as well.
Joseph C. Panettieri is VP of editorial content at Microcast Communications. He blogs
daily at www.techiqmag.com.
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