Better security is available cheaper

A free guide to achieving data security while circumventing much of the cost of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) encryption is available from Avanquest and Intelligent Output Solutions (IOS). The pair believe that nearly 70% of companies don’t have a proper data encryption strategy, and insist that they’re putting their IP at risk. For the 30% that do, they suggest they may also be paying more than they need. “[PKI] is not necessarily the best approach,” says Stewart Rogers, IOS director. “Traditional PKI schemes can be extremely expensive and often require year-on-year administration. “This new guide covers some of the shortfalls and costs associated with PKI, and compares them against solid non-PKI technologies.” “Paying once for a security product and leaving it to work, day in and day out, has got to provide a bigger return on investment than a ‘regular administration’ solution,” adds Giles Forrester, product manager for PC Guardian encryption software at Avanquest. Meanwhile, security provision has already overtaken traditional uses of systems management software, such as PC inventory tracking, help desk support and server configuration management. A survey by LanDesk Software shows that more organisations are viewing security as a management issue, which needs to be planned, automated and reviewed. 65% of systems managers replied that they now use systems management software for distribution of virus updates, while a further 55% use it predominantly for patch management.