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Reinforcing network security

Are traditional password controlled access credentials providing sufficient protection for your company’s corporate assets? Advanced security solutions distributor, Powell Tronics, has introduced network security based protection for corporate IT systems.

Melissa Jacobs of Powell Tronics says that this latest solution effectively manages access to the network by replacing passwords and PINs with fingerprints. It should also manage the software and hardware inventory of each computer on the network. For some time now, IT has needed to catch up with advances in physical security, however, according to Jacobs, this has not been possible – until the introduction of these network security based products:

“IT professionals are aware of the huge risks created by credentials like cards, PINs and passwords. They are not secure, simply because I can use your password or card and vice versa, and then there is the issue of installing prohibited software which brings additional security risks”.

Melissa Jacobs

Although Jacobs is also quick to add that South Africa is well advanced on the biometric learning curve: “Local organisations have learned two things: fingerprints are the way to go.”

Although identity theft and fraudulent EFT payments get a lot of attention, far greater losses are occurring through the cyber theft of secret and confidential data, such as deal negotiations, strategic plans, operational processes, financials and R&D. According to Jacobs, the available research shows that most cyber crime is based on the abuse of normal IT access credentials, and that this happens so frequently because it is so easy to exploit cards, PINs and passwords: They are no longer an effective barrier to unauthorised access.

With the value added benefit of an inventory control application installed on computers, this innovative application will effectively manage each computer’s software and hardware inventory. Protecting the integrity of applications on the network minimises risk and ensures that an immediate alert is sent out, rather than trying to recover losses after the fact. Should one of the computers be lost, stolen or destroyed in a fire, the loss of intellectual property often amounts to more than the cost of the actual computer – but by having an inventory of all the software applications on the device, it is easier to report on what was installed and have all your licenced software replaced rather than being forced to invest in new licences.

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