Posts Tagged ‘vendor’

Strong security controls are necessary for more than just preventing hack attempts

Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

Recently I’ve heard in various discussion venues the argument that information security controls are an impediment to technology use, and that instead we should look at demotivating the hackers. With specific regard to medical devices, one commenter stated that generally, the best “bet in defending medical devices (as well as financial systems) is making the information useless/pointless for the attackers.”  This is a dangerous attitude, and minimizes the true value of data on the devices.

Considering data on any type of computing device is considered (more…)

Mobile Device Security Continues to get More Complicated

Saturday, February 1st, 2014

I first started working on truly easily mobile computing device (not counting the first programmable pocket calculator, or the luggable computers that could not be hidden in your pocket) security in the workplace when the IT folks in my company at the time started bringing Psion devices to meetings somewhere around 1992 – 1993.  They presented some serious information security risks to the company. If the information security risks were considered to be significant 20 years ago, now the new additional information security and privacy risks are comparatively staggering.

Where is it?

Probably the number one risk back then was the tendency to lose or misplace the device.  It seemed like these little gadgets would be forgotten the moment they were laid down, despite how highly prized they were by their owners. Mobile computing devices today (more…)

Time to Focus on Privacy Every Day

Friday, January 31st, 2014

This week January 28 was recognized around the world at International Data Privacy Day. Data Privacy Day is the perfect time to think about all things privacy. For example, consider all the computing devices and gadgets you use, including smartphones and tablets.  Many folks don’t realize these devices are continually collecting personal information about (more…)

Yes, You Still Need Policies for Your Outsourced Activities!

Friday, December 27th, 2013

Here’s a statement I’ve answered over 100 times (seriously!) in the past few years.

“We’ve outsourced that IT activity, so we don’t we don’t need a policy for it.”

The one word reply to this statement is, (more…)