Letter from the Editor: November 2013
By: Tim Young
“Distrust and caution are the parents of security.”
—Benjamin Franklin
I became a homeowner for the first time relatively recently. Having spent much of my adult life in large cities or areas in which I didn’t plan on staying for more than a few years, renting always made more sense. Forking over a down payment, undergoing unending mortgage scrutiny and signing on the dotted line is never fun, but it’s nice to have the freedom to change a space as needed, not to mention having a little chunk of the planet I can call my own.
It’s amazing too how that shift changes one’s view of security: You suddenly pay more attention to sightlines and lock quality. If something’s been moved, you want to know who moved it. You might even be the guy who, while raking your leaves in the front yard, yells at the teenagers from six houses down when they drive too quickly down your otherwise quiet street. After all, there could be kids playing, or someone jogging. Someone could get hurt, for cryin' out loud!
Ahem. Not that I’ve ever actually done that, of course. “Nope, not me,” I say, whistling nonchalantly.
Being a homeowner makes me uniquely responsible for my security and the security of my family in a way I’d never experienced before. I am the custodian of my little scrap of land, and though I don’t distrust my immediate neighbors, I do find it to be my role to proceed with a healthy dose of caution.
Security isn’t sexy. It doesn’t immediately appeal to my poorly groomed inner rebel, who would rather have me seek adventure and throw that healthy dose of caution to the wind. But while that may be a great way to enjoy a vacation or find inspiration for a novel, it’s also an open invitation for someone to steal your lawn mower—or your identity.
Your online presence is an extension of your home, and networks rely on a modicum of security to ensure a safe marketplace wherein sensitive data can be exchanged without fear of theft (or worse). In our interconnected age, network threats can translate to other kinds of threats, particularly as cyberwarfare continues to grow as a legitimate cause for concern. Furthermore, as we debate the limits of privacy and warrantless surveillance by entities both foreign and domestic, security issues become more timely than ever.
In this issue of Pipeline we explore the security demands of the modern communications era. We’ll check out the latest threats, look at the various types of network security that must be addressed, discuss the regulatory angle of evolving network security, and examine the business case for security as a value-added service.
Plus, we bring you other important nuggets of news and commentary from across the COMET space. Rest assured, there’s plenty here to help keep you and your business secure.
All the best,
Tim Young
Editor-in-Chief
