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New smartcard readers enable intelligent enterprise access control solutions

Eighty percent of network security spend until 2004 will go towards perimeter security, and outsourced security will continue to be big business. These were among the most notable trends presented recently by global technology research organisation, the GartnerGroup, at a local e-business security conference.

"The Gartner presentations at the conference, entitled 'Making your e-business secure and disaster-resilient', re-confirmed that Dimension Data Security's strategy and scope are right on target," says Gary Middleton, global services manager for security at Dimension Data. "Most of the findings supported our strategic direction and reinforced our belief in global security trends."

The organisation has moved beyond implementing Internet firewalls to include many other aspects of information security, including authentication, intrusion detection and content security, as well as a host of services around these. This enables the organisation to deliver a true end-to-end security solution.

The group's worldwide security business was worth $50 million in 2001, with between 130 and 140 people working globally to deliver security solutions to customers. Among the points made at the conference was that perimeter security will represent 80% of network security spending through 2004 (0,7 probability).

Perimeter security includes authentication, firewalls, intrusion detection behind or just in front of the firewall, and content security at the Internet gateway, the areas on which Dimension Data concentrates.

The GartnerGroup refers to security technology as being 'crunchy on the outside, and chewy on the inside'. By this it means that perimeter, or 'outside' security technology has firmed up and matured, while 'inside' security has some way to go.

"The organisation believes there are three years to go before there is easy security on the desktop," reports Middleton. "For security spend to spread to the inside of the network, Gartner believes that security must be built directly into products, and this will take time."

For further details contact Gary Middleton, DiData on tel: 011 709 1000.

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