Mobile security, RFID to have largest impact on IT security

Jan 2, 2007 3:54 PM

IT security managers may want to take heed: emerging technologies like mobile security and RFID should be making a significant blip on your radar screens.

According to David Strom's article in InformationWeek, mobile security and RFID are two of the top five technologies projected to have a major impact on IT managers in 2007 and beyond.

Of most significance to security departments is mobile security. "The traditional security perimeter is gone -- and the enterprise needs to protect itself from potentially infected remote users. Of course, there are numerous endpoint security solutions available.

Today's IT managers have to worry about infected laptops that can bring down their networks, Strom says. The trick is delivering a consolidated mobile and endpoint security solution across the enterprise that will cover multiple desktop operating systems, non-desktop network devices such as Web cameras and print servers, and various switch and router vendors and operating system versions. That's a tall order, especially as most IT shops already have some collection of perimeter security devices that will need to work with whatever end-point solution is concocted.

As for RFID, it may have been around for years, but several factors have come together to make it a bigger deal in 2007, Strom says.

First, there are new developments in the integration of supply chain infrastructure, which has made it easier to manipulate RFID data directly into inventory, supply chain and manufacturing systems. These changes have stimulated other entrepreneurial efforts and created more of a market for RFID-related products. Second, the standards are solidifying, making it easier to develop applications and interoperate various pieces.

Anyone trying to master RFID will need to examine its three key components: scanners, radios and warehouses, Strom says. The reason for putting scanning expertise first is because the transition from bar codes to radio tags is a relatively easy transition. Any successful RFID deployment also needs to take into account potential radio issues and how wireless networks are deployed across the enterprise. Finally, warehousing and inventory experience are needed to collect the scanned information and integrate into any existing supply chain applications.

The other three top-5 technologies focus more on IT-related issues. They include Web services, server virtualization and graphics processing.

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