With rising usage of Internet, Cloud computing and new trends like BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) coming up; safety of networks and enterprise data is for sure, at risk. Many Chief Information Officers spend most of their time facing scenarios of dilemma, with budget constraints on one hand and technology needs on the other. In order to keep the IT department functioning optimally, efficient CIOs need to make sure they have the right resources on hand to help them effectively achieve enterprise goals. Let us talk about a few common concerns that keep a CIO worried these days.
Although CIOs struggle with numerous issues in general, let us start with one of the most worrying concerns, Data security. A recent poll of among some 1000+ CIOs revealed that data security is their number-one concern. Rise in Security breaches, data leaks, malware attacks, hacking, corporate espionage and so on are actual concerns which large corporations face today. In 2011 alone, business behemoths like Google and Sony lost billions of dollars on account of cyber attacks against them.
Says Sunil Sharma, Head- Sales, Cyberoam, “Such incidents and statistics confirm the fact that no organization around the world is today spared by web-application attacks, including governments, banks, retail, manufacturing organizations, and more. Today, cyber attacks have grown up to an all new level. Corporate data and enterprise information is at a higher risk of theft and misuse than ever before”. To add on to these concerns the systemic nature of recent attacks has alarmed the industry leaders around the world. Arming network users with adequate knowledge on cyber security is crucial for any organization’s survival.
Apart from these concerns of Data security through the above mentioned methods, the evolving culture of Cloud Computing is also a major cause of concern. According to research by Forrester Consulting, two thirds of CIOs now believe their business sees cloud computing as a way to dodge IT. No doubt, cloud computing is being used aggressively by businesses to move the IT department on to clouds and get services delivered more effectively in lesser time. But along with all its numerous benefits it is also giving sleepless nights to CIOs. This new change is leading to additional cost and complexity. The strange part of the story is how cloud computing deployments are happening without the CIO’s knowledge. Inside a large organisation this can mean uncontrolled access to cloud computing that can be highly hazardous to data security.
Yet another looming threat to data security is BYOD. The iPad and iPhone popularity has taken many enterprises by surprise. The impact of extensive usage of tablets and smart phones can be clearly seen on organizations and the way they are functioning today. Of the 15 million iPads on the street, Forrester figures say that half among them make their way to work. These figures are sure to rise given the huge success of iPad 2. Theres no question iPad productivity apps are gaining momentum. With more enterprises embracing tablets, companies are often seen in a panicked scenario.
BYOD no doubt is very flexible and highly useful, but it presents some grave challenges to organizations like organizations allowing BYOD concept need to ensure that unauthorized devices are prohibited from using organizational infrastructure to ensure network security. Another reflection is the sensitivity level of company data. This becomes a major concern for organizations that deal confidential data. Under the BYOD scenario, it becomes very difficult to monitor all these various devices. And some devices may transmit viruses and damage the network and other devices connected to the network.
More than security, the strain iPads will put on wireless networks has everyone concerned. The network administrators are already crying out loud about their concerns on network security and the alarming network usage that are becoming a reality with the new BYOD culture. Keeping the iPad protected and updated with new functionalities is a continuous job and also a huge drain on an organization’s network resources as updates and upgrades can be several GBs in size. Now think of the multiple iPad users in an organization and imagine its impact on the network and application performance in these organizations! Reducing the effect of such bandwidth crunch on business networks has become crucial and urgent.
To start in terms of implementation of some measures for security, primarily every enterprise should ‘Be prepared’. Training is even today, an organization’s first line of defence. Keep yourself and your network users updated about all latest updated in the security arena. But training alone can’t withstand these pressures on network security. A good Security solution is what can help take some of these security worries off the CIOs concern list! The challenge is to assure that you find the right security service provider for your enterprise. As a CIO you need to assess the organization’s current and desired levels of security. Moreover, you need to analyse the organization’s unique challenges, best practices and distinct methodologies, before short listing a security solution for your enterprise. This will help one establish a good road map for security.
Talking about solutions, although we have many solutions to consider, Cyberoam offers itself in a highly flexible and effective package for enterprises. Cyberoam’s unified threat management solution, can single-handedly handle all the issues of security, productivity and connectivity. It is a solution with continuous focus on future security needs and gateway integrated security over single platform and it can be ideal to tackle such scenarios. Cyberoam is an ideal solution to solve all your issues mentioned above.
With advanced threat detection capabilities, Cyberoam’s Offers high levels of protection and its Layer 8 Technology encourages security decisions using Usernames and IP addresses for robust security. Cyberoam’s WAF feature, interfaces between the Web server and client, scanning all incoming and outgoing data packets to mitigate any potential risk due to web applications and prevents attacks on your applications.
It delivers comprehensive security to organizations with integrated solutions like Firewall, VPN (SSL VPN and IPSec), Intrusion Prevention System, Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam, Web Filtering, Bandwidth Management and Multiple Link Management over a single platform. Cyberoam’s Bandwidth Management and Application Visibility and Control features over its UTM appliances allows its customers to intelligently prioritize applications for optimal performance of business critical applications in their networks.
