What to Really Watch at RSA 2008: Is Data-centric Security Catching on?
By Manu Namboodiri, Director of Product Marketing, BitArmor Systems, Inc.
At BitArmor, we have been talking about data-centric security for a while now. We know that data centricity is not only the future of security – it’s the future of IT (we’ll get to why I can say that in a bit).
So, when I got a hold of Windows Vista, and later Windows Server 2008, I must say that I was very encouraged. Not only will enterprise users enjoy unprecedented capabilities to create, share, and digest information, Microsoft has moved a long way toward creating a foundation for enterprise security. Specifically, Microsoft technology is enabling highly secure software code execution (particularly at the kernel level), and BitLocker will do wonders for the assurance of system integrity and protection of disk data at rest.
That’s encouraging to me because it means we’re one step closer to a data-centric world. A better foundation means that we can develop better security software; software that can keep up with the blinding proliferation of distributed data. It simply no longer makes sense to build security around devices – data is the real asset, so data should be the real security priority. A data-centric approach to security is infinitely more scalable and manageable as the amount of an enterprise’s information assets rockets into the petabyte range (and as the monetary value of that data grows just as quickly).
There’s been some chatter about data-centric security brewing for a while now. We’ll be hearing more on the subject at RSA this year than we ever have before:
- The Jericho Forum is hosting their own event In San Francisco this week
- Many vendors have attempted to introduce messages about data-centricity – and we know the subject will be flying through the Expo Hall
- I’m leading a Peer2Peer session devoted to this topic
It’s going to be exciting to hear what folks are saying about data-centricity and how they’re leveraging Microsoft’s new platforms to drive security in that in that direction. Enjoy the conference!
Manu Namboodiri, Director of Product Marketing, BitArmor Systems, Inc.
