Computer Security Is Good Business

What do a business's invoices have in common with e-mail? If both are done on the same computer, the business owner may want to think more about computer security.

Information-payroll records, proprietary information, client or employee data-is essential to a business's success. A computer failure or other system breach could cost a business anything from its reputation to damages and recovery costs. The small business owner who recognizes the threat of computer crime and takes steps to deter inappropriate activities is less likely to become a victim.

The vulnerability of any one small business may not seem significant to many other than the owner and employees of that business. However, over 27 million U.S. businesses-over 95 percent of all U.S. businesses-are small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) of 500 employees or less. Therefore, a vulnerability common to a large percentage of all SMBs could pose a threat to the Nation's economic base.

In the special arena of information security, vulnerable SMBs also run the risk of being compromised for use in crimes against governmental or large industrial systems upon which everyone relies. SMBs frequently cannot justify an extensive security program or a full-time expert. Nonetheless, they confront serious security challenges and must address security requirements based on identified needs. nist.gov/

Computer-Security Event Seeks to Spur Int'l Talks

As governments around the world amass armies of hackers to protect their countries' computer networks and possibly attack others, the idea of getting officials together to discuss shared threats such as cybercrime is challenging.

"You just don't pick up the phone and call your counterparts in these countries," said retired Lt. Gen. Harry Raduege Jr., former head of the federal agency responsible for securing the military's and the president's communications technologies. "They're always guarded in those areas, and they're always wondering if there's some other motive" behind the outreach.

So the idea behind an international security conference in Dallas this week is to get government officials, industry executives and others talking, informally, about where they might find common ground.

The Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit, organized by the EastWest Institute think tank, is different from some other big security conferences in that the focus isn't on hackers showing off their latest research or security-technology vendors connecting with customers. abcnews

Companies Expected To Increase Spending In Computer Security

Security vendors could benefit as companies loosen tech budgets tightened in the recession.

More than 70% of companies plan to boost tech spending next year, with security a top priority, says a survey released Monday by Pacific Crest Securities. The 80 companies polled said their biggest increases will be for servers and security software.

"It's a function of the threat landscape as well as continued (regulatory) compliance," said Pacific Crest analyst Rob Owens. "I think this is different from past (economic) cycles where there was spending on security in the downturn but it took a back seat in the recovery." Investors