Hackers, Viruses Fuel Security Market, Not 9-11

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.washtech.com/news/netarch/15935-1.html

By Steven Bonisteel,
Newsbytes.com
Monday, April 1, 2002; 9:35 AM

Businesses beefing up network-security measures these days still worry 
more about viruses and the antics of renegade hackers than 
international terrorists, according to a new report from In-Stat/MDR. 
A survey by the technology market research firm suggests that attacks 
on the U.S. by terrorists last fall had little impact on the network 
security concerns of most businesses. 

InStat said 80 percent of businesses it surveyed reported that 
feelings about network security were the "same as before" Sept. 11's 
terrorist attacks. 

Instead, the researchers said, sales of security technology are driven 
by the need to protect local networks from viruses and hackers. 

In addition, larger enterprises in particular are turning to virtual 
private network (VPN) technology to secure connections between remotes 
offices and mobile workers. 

"There are various technologies that address network security 
challenges originating from both within the local area network - 
remote branch offices, telecommuters, wireless access nodes, and 
business partners on extranets - and outside the local area network 
from viruses and hackers," said InStat analyst Sam Lucero, in a 
prepared statement. 

"A large number of security vendors, selling a wide range of products, 
are competing in this market, with the market for 'low- end' security 
appliances and software primarily served by smaller companies focusing 
exclusively on security technology and the larger, traditional 
networking equipment vendors dominating the market for 'mid- to 
high-end' equipment, providing a portfolio of security products 
attractive to large corporate customers." 

InStat said companies large and small are protecting their networks 
with firewall technology, with bigger businesses more likely to choose 
a hardware based system, while smaller outfits were more likely to use 
a software-based firewall on regular PC server. 

Lucero said companies surveyed by In-Stat cited manageability and 
compatibility as being just as important when selecting security 
technology as price. 

"Those vendors that can focus on these core criteria will fair the 
best in this highly competitive space," he said. 



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