Features - Page 1 - SC Magazine UK

Butterfly on a wheel

Derek Parkinson February 24, 2012

The period that has passed since Gary McKinnon hacked into US networks amounts to five times the length of any prison sentence given to those convicted of hacking in the UK, but far less than the 70 years he might face in jail if extradited to America.

Moscow with Kaspersky Lab

Paul Fisher October 27, 2011

SC Editor Paul Fisher went to Moscow to interview CEO and founder of Kaspersky Lab, Eugene Kaspersky.

No escape from the regulator

Rob Buckley August 26, 2011

Nobody likes having someone looking over their shoulder and telling them how it's done, but this is the reality for CISOs in a tough regulatory environment. By Rob Buckley.

The vendor collectors

Hannah Prevett August 26, 2011

Security giants continue to plug gaps in their offerings by acquiring smaller players. But is innovation being stifled? Hannah Prevett investigates.

Survey: Data management

July 12, 2011

The latest SC survey looked at approaches and attitudes to data management and storage. Concerns surrounding cloud and access policies came under particular scrutiny.

SC Magazine interview: Stephen Howes, founder and CTO of GrIDsure

Paul Fisher July 12, 2011

The chief technology officer and founder of access management start-up GrIDsure, which offers a shape-based alternative to traditional passwords, reveals how he got the idea off the ground - and where he thinks his peers are going wrong. By Paul Fisher.

A quantum leap for security

John Edwards July 12, 2011

Big advances mean that quantum encryption may soon be ready to safeguard the most valuable assets of government and industry. John Edwards explains the science.

Analysis: MSSPs - a helping hand?

Hannah Prevett July 12, 2011

Despite the worries that persist around the outsourcing of security generally, more and more organisations - from city councils to small businesses - are finding that the pros of managed security services far outweigh the potential cons, writes Hannah Prevett.

Survey: Compliance strategies

April 19, 2011

In our latest survey, we looked at information security professionals' attitude to compliance. As ever, the results provide food for thought.

SIEM: Out of the shadows and into the light

David Waller April 18, 2011

Everyone is talking about security information and event management (SIEM), which gives organisations a unique vision of the threats they encounter. By David Waller.

Facing up to the mobile revolution

Rob Buckley April 15, 2011

Whether companies are actively encouraging their employees to work on the move, or staff are simply using personal mobile devices of their own accord, security professionals face a major new headache in protecting their organisations from threats, writes Rob Buckley.

SC/Symantec.cloud Survey: Archiving and continuity

February 25, 2011

There is a growing need for email archiving, but our survey, in association with Symantec.cloud, reveals a neglectful attitude of 'out of sight, out of mind'.

SC Magazine interview: Michael White, technical director at Coverity

Paul Fisher February 25, 2011

Coverity's technical director doesn't believe in surprises. The company has a triage process for resolving defects, in timely fashion, to help develop secure applications. It has clients across the globe, including financial giants such as Barclays. By Paul Fisher.

Virtualisation offers a lot of advantages but security must already be built in

Rob Buckley February 25, 2011

In an increasingly complex security world, virtualisation promises much - if you build in security from the get-go, says Rob Buckley.

Analysis: Life after WikiLeaks

Derek Parkinson February 24, 2011

The WikiLeaks publication of confidential US dimplomatic cables is still causing ructions, but is it more embarrassing than dangerous? Derek Parkinson looks at the security lessons for the rest of us.

SC Magazine interview: Dan Turner, CEO of HP Information Security

Paul Fisher January 03, 2011

The CEO of the newly formed HP Information Security is out to shake up the business of data security and now has the resources to do it. He outlines his plans to Paul Fisher.

Funding the new Home Guard to protect against cyber attacks

Derek Parkinson January 03, 2011

For the first time, cyber threats are on the fast track to the Prime Minister's in-tray. And with £650 million available, the Government is putting its money where its mouth is, says Derek Parkinson.

SC Magazine interview: Mushegh Hakinian, security architect at IntraLinks

Paul Fisher January 03, 2011

CISSP security architect Mushegh Hakhinian leads the application security practice at secure information exchange service IntraLinks. Financial security has been his driving idea for the past 16 years, he tells Paul Fisher.

SC and SHS Survey on remote working

January 03, 2011

The survey reveals worrying levels of technological confusion and cultural inertia in an area vital for the future of UK Plc.

Case study: IT challenges facing Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

Dan Raywood January 03, 2011

Premier League clubs have unique IT challenge's - such as 36,000 fans trying to access the wireless network on a Saturday. Dan Raywood kicks a ball around with Tottenham Hotspur's IT boss, Philip Rose.

Professional workshop: Managing your way out of risk

Rob Buckley January 03, 2011

No organisation can prevent every possible incursion, so risk management is becoming the de facto way to protect an organisation's data. Rob Buckley takes you through the strategy and tactics of an approach used even in ancient Rome.

Professional workshop: Avoid web browser nightmares

Mario Guido Finetti October 25, 2010

There are complex questions surrounding enterprise web browser management. Mario Finetti suggests some practical answers.

SC Magazine interview: David Harley, senior research fellow at ESET

Dan Raywood October 25, 2010

As director of the NHS Threat Assessment Centre, ESET's senior research fellow gained an understanding of the security demands of one of our greatest institutions. He's not sure current solutions are fit for purpose, he tells Dan Raywood.

Moving on from the 2007 data loss by HMRC

Rob Buckley October 25, 2010

The loss in 2007 by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs of 25 million people's details was a major warning to the public sector. Rob Buckley says that the private sector should also take heed.

Nettitude and Coventry University join forces to fight cyber criminals

October 25, 2010

Graduates starting out in any industry might find it difficult to get a job in the current economic climate, but for the graduates of information security, securing employment is almost impossible without them gaining the necessary work experience employers insist on.

SC Most Influential 2010

October 25, 2010

The SC Most Influential is a new programme conducted in association with (ISC)2 to identify the most influential people in information security.

SC Executive Network: The perils of risk aversion

September 02, 2010

Controversial prof Frank Furedi ruffled some feathers at the third meeting of our exclusive club for industry leaders.

SC Think Tank: Data, use it or lose it

September 02, 2010

Our expert panel ponders the varying demands of data: preventing its loss, but not retaining it so long the ICO gets antsy.

RSA Conference Europe 2010

September 02, 2010

Brighten up those autumn days by attending this important security event: learn at sessions and the trade show, network with your peers.

Utility companies worldwide are rolling out smart meters but are they secure?

Hannah Prevett September 01, 2010

The quarterly lecky bill is on its way out - the smart grid will give the customer instant feedback - but is smart also secure? The debate is heating up, says Hannah Prevett.

SC Magazine interview: Art Coviello, president of RSA

Paul Fisher September 01, 2010

The president of RSA is known for his controversial views on the industry. He may ruffle feathers, but is worth listening to, says Paul Fisher.

Digital forensics is in demand

September 01, 2010

Increasingly in demand in business, digital forensics has come of age at last. Mark Mayne wields the magnifying glass.

SC and Symantec Hosted Services Survey: How IT views online threats

September 01, 2010

Our exclusive SC/Symantec Hosted Services survey of IT staff attitudes to online threats turned up some interesting results - there was often a disconnect between perception of threat and the reality.

Cyber crime is a lucrative trade and it's growing

Dave Waller September 01, 2010

Estimates of the cost of cyber crime go up to $1trn. Whatever the truth, the internet is quite murky - and getting worse, says Dave Waller.

SC Magazine interview: Martin Dipper, director of security services at Boxing Orange

Paul Fisher September 01, 2010

Appointed director of security services at Yorkshire-based services provider, Boxing Orange, earlier this year, Martin Dipper spoke to Paul Fisher about how the market for security services is changing, along with the threat landscape.

SC interview: Hugh Njemanze, co-founder and CTO of ArcSight

July 12, 2010

Ten years ago Hugh Njemanze felt that security professionals were missing accurate tools to monitor network activity.

SC interview: Peter Altabef, president of Dell Services

Paul Fisher July 09, 2010

Altabef talks about Dell's plans for integrated secure services.

SC Think Tank: Security in a virtual world

June 30, 2010

Our Think Tank experts tackle the challenge of implementing virtualisation in a rapidly changing world

Survey: State of the information security nation

June 29, 2010

SC Magazine took the temperature of the security industry last year, revealing some startling facts. Blue Cube returns to see how the patient is faring.

Analysing the brave new cloud world

Andrew Donoghue June 29, 2010

By 2013, cloud services will be dominant, especially in SMEs. Best to start preparing for the future, says Andrew Donoghue

Making sense of compliance and governance

Rob Buckley June 29, 2010

Whether it is one big Sarbanes-style law, or by many tiny amendments, compliance is here to stay. Don't let it faze you, says Rob Buckley.

SC Technical Masterclass: Identity flow in a Service Oriented Architecture

Mario Guido Finetti June 28, 2010

OASIS Web Services Security - SOAP message security defines a standard way to attach security tokens to SOAP messages. In a multi-layered application, which digital identity should authenticate with the web service provider? Mario Guido Finetti guides you through the maze.

The difficulty of utilising information security in a business

June 28, 2010

Implementing information security in a business is hard, with hidden questions and unexpected costs, say Steve Marsh and Fred Piper.

SC Magazine interview: Selva Selvaratnam, CTO of HID Global

Paul Fisher June 28, 2010

After two decades running his own business, he saw it taken over by HID Global, eventually becoming HID's senior vice president and chief technology officer. Paul Fisher met him.

Want to reduce IT risk and save money? Hire a CISO

Jim Hurley May 10, 2010

One of the main differentiators for companies with the best outcomes in IT security is having a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), according to Symantec's Jim Hurley.

SC Think Tank: The problems of giving employees access to social media

April 27, 2010

Security risk or marketing win? A number of industry gurus gave their opinions on the dilemma of giving employees access to social media in the recent SC roundtable.

Can you ever be wholly leakproof from data loss?

Rob Buckley April 27, 2010

Data leakage prevention (DLP) is beginning to appeal to many, but even the best products need careful deployment, says Rob Buckley.

Vendors often over-emphasise malicious IT threats to help sell their products, but is this a case of crying wolf?

Dave Waller April 27, 2010

Vendors shout woe loud and often - they want you to buy their product. But it's not all without foundation, says Dave Waller.

SC Executive Network: Sir Ian Blair on the problems of the insider threat and cyber terrorism

SC Staff April 27, 2010

Star speaker Sir Ian Blair dazzled top security bosses at the second meeting of our exclusive club for industry leaders.

SC Magazine interview: Martyn Croft, chief information officer at the Salvation Army

Paul Fisher April 27, 2010

He's no tambourine man, but the Salvation Army's CIO isn't there by accident - and he tailors his work to its high mission. By Paul Fisher

SC Magazine Q&A with former information commissioner Richard Thomas

Paul Fisher March 01, 2010

Richard Thomas served as UK information commissioner until 2009. He is credited with bringing data security into the mainstream. By Paul Fisher

Trojans produced by criminal gangs are on the warpath

Rob Buckley March 01, 2010

Malware gangs have test labs that adapt their polymorphic Trojans to deadly effect. 'Crime as a Service' is heading your way...By Rob Buckley

Analysis: What will the next decade bring in the information security world?

Mark Mayne March 01, 2010

What will the next decade bring? More of the same - or fresh, tough challenges, such as AR? Mark Mayne gazes into the crystal ball.

Oracle's Sun rise, a new dawn?

Kevin Eagles February 26, 2010

It's finally happened folks, with the EU handbrake now released Oracle and Sun are now one mighty rolling combo.

How can IT experts make a successful move to a career in information security?

Jessica Twentyman February 25, 2010

After a tough recession, information security is increasingly a tempting prospect for IT high fliers. We examine how they can make the successful transition. By Jessica Twentyman.

Compliance strategy: Cutting to the chase

February 09, 2010

Confused and disheartened by the explosion in regulatory hoops your organisation must jump through? Alan Calder points to an easier way.

Compliance storage: Cleaning out the closet

February 09, 2010

Compliance has made the case for efficient storage solutions. Use them to deliver long-term business benefits, says Ian Cook

SC Magazine explores the Israeli information security industry with a trip to Tel Aviv

Paul Fisher December 10, 2009

An intensive three days in the Israeli business capital's high-tech sector turned up some interesting security ideas. By Paul Fisher

SC's review of the decade: turbulent times for information security

Mark Mayne December 10, 2009

Ten years that began with the Y2K bug finished in the credit crunch. With malware and botnets, it's been a hell of a ride, says Mark Mayne

Liftoff for the SC Executive Network

December 10, 2009

Put 50 senior security professionals in a relaxed environment and creative sparks fly.

Social networking can cause problems in the workplace, but there are solutions

Rob Buckley December 10, 2009

A blanket ban on social networking sites at work will annoy Generation Y - without being effective. There are solutions, says Rob Buckley

Leveraging compliance regulations to achieve total security intelligence

Brendan Hannigan, president and COO of Q1 Labs December 01, 2009

Personal Credit Information (PCI) requirements have a long way to go before they become fool-proof, but in the meantime the current prescriptive regulations provide a great jumping-off point for businesses looking to protect customers' data and make transactions secure.

Technology briefing: log management and SIEM

Mark Mayne October 29, 2009

Log management or SIEM is the key to getting a handle on your network and those trying to breach it. By Mark Mayne

Virtualisation seems like the solution to managing IT systems, but what are its faults?

Rob Buckley October 28, 2009

In a complex security world, virtualisation seems to be a brilliant solution. But the VM path is strewn with pitfalls, says Rob Buckley

Enrique Salem: the new face of Symantec

Paul Fisher October 28, 2009

Symantec's new CEO knows his way around the company he has been with since 1990, but can he lead it in tough times? Yes, says Paul Fisher

What are the best lines of defence for businesses when trading online?

Rob Buckley September 22, 2009

With more businesses accepting credit cards online, web application firewalls and correct coding are the best lines of defence. By Rob Buckley

Encryption is becoming more elaborate to ensure confidential business data is kept secret

Mark Mayne September 22, 2009

The rise in connectivity makes it difficult to keep your business secret, prompting more elaborate encryption. By Mark Mayne

How do smaller businesses choose the right MSSP to look after their data?

Jessica Twentyman September 22, 2009

Smaller businesses will often turn to MSSPs to look after their data, but how do they choose the right one? By Jessica Twentyman

SC Magazine interviews Gil Shwed, co-founder of Check Point

Paul Fisher September 22, 2009

The co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Check Point, and architect of the first off-the-shelf firewall, meets Paul Fisher

Symantec CEO Enrique Salem talks exclusively to SC Magazine editor Paul Fisher

Paul Fisher September 18, 2009

The editor of SC Magazine Paul Fisher was given exclusive access to Symantec's recently appointed CEO.

We don't need no education?

Lisa Myers July 27, 2009

Despite years of malware and social engineering attacks we don't seem to be any nearer making employees understand the dangers of the internet.

SC Magazine interviews Adrian Seccombe, chief information security officer at Eli Lilly

Paul Fisher June 29, 2009

An Eli Lilly loyalist for almost 30 years and one of the world's most important CISOs, he still has a lively feel for innovation. By Paul Fisher

The problems and benefits of identity and access management

Mark Mayne June 29, 2009

Identity and access management (IAM) is at the heart of corporate security, a difficult task with potential for great savings. By Mark Mayne

The rise of affordable consumer technology causes problems for businesses

Andrew Donoghue June 29, 2009

As people lobby to take iPhones and laptops into work, should business embrace or ban consumer technology? By Andrew Donoghue

Free copy of VigilancePro Encrypted Vault Manager

May 30, 2009

VigilancePro Encrypted Vault Manager (EVM) from Overtis Systems aims to protect data by sending it through encrypted vaults. It enables information to be shared safely and securely via email or on removable media such as USB drives, CDs or DVDs.

SC Magazine interviews Proofpoint chief executive Gary Steele

Paul Fisher May 13, 2009

Having paid his Silicon Valley dues, the email security CEO is at the forefront of the cloud, sanguine about the future. By Paul Fisher

Proofpoint: Talking financials and economics

May 13, 2009

During his visit to the Proofpoint HQ in Silicon Valley, SC Magazine editor Paul Fisher met up with Paul Auvil, chief financial officer.

Proofpoint: The threat landscape

May 13, 2009

During his visit to the Proofpoint HQ in Silicon Valley, SC Magazine editor Paul Fisher met up with Andrés Kohn vice president, technology and product management.

Photos from SC Awards Europe 2009

SC Staff May 11, 2009

The SC Awards Europe 2009 were another great success. Enjoy a selection of photos from the judging right through to the winners on the night.

Case study: controlling access at Kelly College

SC Staff May 09, 2009

It's challenging enough to keep systems secure within a corporate network - imagine having to secure a network in which you had little to no control over each endpoint.

Email an open door to sophisticated security threats

May 09, 2009

Email, once a straightforward vehicle that delivered viruses, Trojans, spam, etc., is now an open door continually exploited by individuals, organised groups of malware authors and cybercriminals to deliver sophisticated and stealthy adaptations of security threats.

Tracking down and retaining the right security people poses problems for companies

Rob Buckley May 08, 2009

If there's one thing almost everyone seems to agree on, it's that, despite the recession, few are going to be cutting back on security expenditure.

Technology briefing: Reluctance to pay for business continuity can lead to costly mistakes

May 07, 2009

Business continuity could be said to be the ultimate grudge spend

Technology briefing: Email security remains a threat

May 07, 2009

Email security could be the single biggest issue facing enterprise security professionals

Built-in encryption is the future of storage

Jessica Twentyman May 07, 2009

The TCG's publication of specifications for full-disk encryption points to the future of storage. By Jessica Twentyman

Perfectly formed tools of the trade

Tom Dunmore May 07, 2009

Looking for some worthy objects of your recession-busting spending spree? Tom Dunmore, editor-in-chief of Stuff, has ideas...

SC Magazine interviews Richard Brain, co-founder of penetration testing company ProCheckUp

Paul Fisher April 02, 2009

An enquiring teenager has turned into one of our top security experts. But the way the country is going has him worried. By Paul Fisher.

Technology briefing: Unified Threat Management is expanding

SC Staff, Julian Evans April 02, 2009

The trend for 'security in the one box' has not stopped at UTM. Welcome to the wonders of XTM and SBA.

Striking out as an independent security consultant is risky, especially in the current economic climate

Jessica Twentyman April 02, 2009

It may seem an odd time to abandon corporate safety and strike out as an independent consultant, but it can work. By Jessica Twentyman.

Increased mobile working has caused a rethink on endpoint security

Mark Mayne April 02, 2009

The end of the perimeter has brought fresh challenges in the rush to go mobile. How can enterprises make it work? By Mark Mayne

Tools of the trade: stylish business gadgets for IT security professionals

Tom Dunmore April 02, 2009

They look good and by golly they do you good. We round up the latest batch of business tools. By Tom Dunmore, editor-in-chief of Stuff

Infosec 2009: all the keynotes, seminars and product launches here

SC Staff April 01, 2009

SC presents a complete guide to all the keynotes, seminars and product launches taking place at Infosecurity Europe 2009

SC Magazine's interview with the global head of Barclays' information risk management team, Stephen Bonner

Paul Fisher March 02, 2009

The global head of Barclays' information risk management team has his eye on the prize, not letting the credit crunch distract. By Paul Fisher.

SC Top 30: Information security overview 2009

March 02, 2009

Times are tough, but the outlook for the security sector is not completely bleak, as managed services begin to boost revenue.

Could the new technology from Check Point rock the security sector?

Dan Raywood March 02, 2009

Security technology and infrastructure is often developed and changed with a large degree of similarity. With respect to the vendors, there is development that does improve on what is offered, but at the same time there is not that much in the way of revolutionary technology being launched.

All the best tools of the trade

Tom Dunmore March 02, 2009

The thinnest LCD TV, the most powerful smartphone: will the superlatives never end? By Tom Dunmore, editor-in-chief of Stuff

Technology briefing: Anti-virus is alive and kicking

Jessica Twentyman March 02, 2009

Rumours of anti-virus software's death are exaggerated. It still packs a punch. By Jessica Twentyman.

Technology briefing: Physical security is just as important

SC Staff March 02, 2009

Digital security has not eliminated the need for physical measures and there's a range of convergent products out there.

Self service password reset in large organisations

Mario Guido Finetti March 02, 2009

It is more and more common to see a "Forgot your password?" link in every login form, both in internet websites and in corporate intranet applications. Many different self-service password reset procedures exist, with subtle differences.

Mobile Freedoms: Don't let security close the door on productivity

Matt Bancroft February 03, 2009

High-spec, high-power and highly compact mobile phones are claiming their place as an alternate mode of enterprise computing.