The Hindu Business Line : Corporates go for security software

BE they banks, telecom companies or plain vanilla manufacturing companies, as corporate India gets networked and connected, Indian enterprises are on high alert. They are growing more security conscious as they get a taste of the strengths and vulnerabilities of the networked world.

From anti-virus software to end-to-end enterprise security architecture, India is buying security software like never before. While most individual buyers just install anti-virus software on their home PC and find peace of mind, security is a major concern for the large enterprise, according to Mr Joy Ghosh, Country-manager, Symantec India, a security software solution provider. Enterprises are installing early-warning systems, intrusion detection systems anti-virus software, anti-spam packages, etc.

For instance, a large Mumbai-based engineering giant recently found that not having 24-hour support for its security systems proved disastrous when a run-of-the-mill bug hit its systems. The entire production systems on three business lines ground to a halt and "two months later, they are still doing damage control," says Mr Ghosh.

While the damage figures quoted by security software companies always sound exaggerated — $100 million of damage wreaked by the Code Red virus — analysts say the numbers reflect not only the down-time of systems but also quantify the consequences of such attacks.

The Government and public sector companies are also networking fast and extensively. They are putting in place huge systems that public policy dictates should be protected sufficiently.

Similarly, the banking and finance industry. With all banks going after their networking and interconnection targets with a vengeance, their security consciousness is at an all-time high. They could be buying about 40 per cent of the $100 million in security software that is projected to be sold this year in the country.

Yet, while Indian companies look at security software as a necessary buy, its mission-critical nature only surfaces after the fact — of a virus attack or security breach, says Mr Niraj Kaushik, country sales manager, Trend Micro. Further, companies must put in place processes that complement the security software as, without it, it is like shutting the front door while leaving the rear entrance unlocked, says an analysts. Intrusion detection software on a network cannot prevent a carelessly-placed CD from being misused, he says.

That means, companies must wake up to a holistic approach to security and incorporate it in every process and activity in the business.

Indian software houses — whether because of client expectations or because of enlightened CIOs — already have fairly elaborate procedures in place. As do the new entrants in to BPO space — with the movement of sensitive data to these centres, suddenly, security even has a board-level representative.

Quite a difference from the uniformed potbellied chowkidar of not-so-vintage days.

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