VMware mega patch heralds hackers swoop on virtual world
1 min read
VMware’s release of a raft of patches – referred to by many as a mega-patch – is likely to be the first of many such moves as hacker interest in the virtual environment takes off.
That’s the view of Rob Rachwald, director of product marketing at application security specialist Fortify.
“With the dramatic fall in processor prices over the last 12 months and the amplifying effects of the credit crunch, many companies are reviewing their IT resources and concluding that virtual servers are a highly cost-effective and business-efficient way to go,” he warns.
“A typical major business may find that VMware gives them access to, say, 16 virtual servers when they only have 12 physical servers. This is a real cost-saver and also allows companies to start taking out more innovative software licences as well,” he adds.
The only problem, however, is that many conventional IT security applications do not fully protect virtual server users, he says.
“It’s a whole new security ballgame, which is why we urge anyone contemplating migrating over to the benefits of a virtual server system to review their IT security systems. It’s also one of the reasons why we predict that virtual server patches will become commonplace in the months ahead,” he says.
