Symantec meet to focus on data, info security concerns

MUMBAI, INDIA: Global security solutions provider Symantec will Thursday unveil its vision to secure and manage sensitive information and identities on multiple platforms spanning IT infrastructure.

"We are showcasing our latest technologies ranging from effective management of large data centres and cloud computing to security and storage at our premium technology conference 'Vision 2010' here," Symantec India spokesperson Mira Davda told IANS Wednesday.

The day-long worldwide event will examine the critical shift to information-centric computing from infrastructure-centric in enterprises and organisations, as convergence of information and communication technologies (ICT) has enabled the seamless integration of diverse products and multiple devices.

"Integrating security, storage and systems management solutions is vital for delivering value to customers. Security products and solutions have become key enablers in a connected world," Davda said ahead of the annual event.

With the ICT emerging as a differentiator, their increasing deployment to enhance productivity across verticals has made security of vital information and critical data in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector paramount.

"We have witnessed a spurt in phishing attacks by cyber criminals on the Indian banking sector this year that did not even spare the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and five other state-run banks since March," Davda recalled.

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Phishing attacks are the most common activity in the cyber world where hackers commit creates a replica of a bank or financial institution's website and lure unsuspecting customers to disclose their personal identities such as username, password and PIN to enable them use the data for siphoning money.

With money and other sensitive transactions being conducted from a host of devices through offline/online, providing security to retain confidence of customers and intermediaries is the latest challenge facing the BFSI sector.

"The solution involves a fundamental shift in how we approach the connected world beyond the systems to protect and manage data or information irrespective of the device, location and infrastructure in real or virtual world," Davda said.

As demonstrated by the recent attack of Stuxnet, a Windows-specific computer worm detected in June, protection of critical infrastructure spanning hardware and software has become a top priority to chief technology or information officers.

"Technology is changing the way we work and play. Information is available to anyone at anytime, anywhere and trends such as consumerisation of IT, cloud computing and virtualisation are driving the shift," Davda noted.

When devices and platforms don't matter anymore, people's business and personal life gets increasingly interwined.

"It is information-centric and user-centric IT that will protect and manage information and identities in the digital era," she said.