TAIT SI Meet: Integrated Approach to Internet Security

The SI meet organized by Mumbai-based Trade Association of IT (TAIT) had
WatchGuard representatives presenting participants with a new approach in
protecting networks. This was by way of integrated security products and
services. They are robust as well as easy to buy, deploy and manage.

A bout 150 solutions providers in Mumbai got a feel of the latest in Internet
security at the recently held SI meet organized jointly by Trade Association of
IT (TAIT), WatchGuard and DQ Channels. Representatives from WatchGuard explained
to participants the latest approach of protecting networks.

Anees Khalfay, President of TAIT, who welcomed the speakers to inaugurate the
summit, said "The purpose of holding such a seminar is to acquaint solution
providers and systems integrators with the latest in technology, be it Internet
security, storage, networking, or any new technologies."

Chetan Shah, Xpress Computers, a TAIT committee member, said, "The
channel community is looking at newer ways to make better margins. Internet
security is one such area. Most solution providers are experts in networking
solutions, but the knowledge to secure this networks from external and internal
threats are limited. Such seminars play an important role in educating solutions
providers with the latest technology available in this field."

Ajit Pillai, Country Manager, Watchguard, highlighted the security concerns
that SMEs and large enterprises face today. "The network security landscape
is becoming more and more sophisticated, and security defenses are becoming more
complex to operate and costly to install," he said. In such a situation, a
security attack could mean either staying in the business or not. Since the
stakes are high, the ultimate goal is to deploy security solutions that will
protect the stability of network and the security of data.

Participants were introduced to a new approach in protecting networks by way
of integrated security products and services. These are are robust as well as
easy to buy, deploy and manage.

Anees Khalfay, President, Tait, acknowledging Ajit's presence in educating SI partners with the latest in network security

An SME is vulnerable to the same security threats as large enterprises, but
SMEs typically don't have the same budget or in-house expertise when preparing
the defense. While every SME aspires to deploy the latest protection against the
constant onslaught of emerging threats, they usually remain very much concerned
about how a security purchase will affect the bottom line. "An Integrated
Security Appliance delivers the advanced security capabilities SMEs need, at a
price they can afford," said Ajit.

SME Security Concerns

The meet presented SIs with the security concerns that SMEs or large
enterprises face. Regardless of the size or purpose, all are concerned about
security, and their capacity to deal with it. The common issues include:
inadequate budget for purchasing appropriate security solution; lack of
expertise and focus to keep up with changing security threats and lack of time
and personnel to maintain a truly secure multi-vendor, multi-layer network
defense.

A small business may be even more vulnerable than larger counterparts,
because of limitations in the amount of protection one can implement. But
network attacks can cripple or destroy a small business that is reliant on
Internet connectivity. Downtime caused by an attack almost always results in
lost productivity and revenue.

Layered Security

The best way to protect your network against such a wide variety of threats
is with effective, efficient layered security. The traditional layered security
uses multiple technologies to set up defenses at each level of network, where
vulnerabilities are likely to exist. Much like setting up a variety of defenses
around a property, such as guard dogs, automated alarms, motion detectors, and
deadbolts.

However, layered security or the 'multiple point security solution' has
problems with it. Many SMEs try to implement security systems by mixing
disparate point solutions from several vendors. These products must all be
purchased, installed, managed, and updated separately. This approach generates
difficulties with interoperability, incomplete protection, and time-consuming
testing and verifying patches across multiple technologies, all of which can
slow a network's response to attacks. Products that aren't designed to work
with each other can impact the performance rates of a network. The costs
involved in implementing these products to provide comprehensive protection can,
and often do, become prohibitive for a SME. In such a scenario, Integrated
security appliances makes better sense.

Integrated Security Appliances

The basic concept of an integrated security appliance is not new. It simply
means combining multiple security functions into a single solution or appliance.
Some security vendors have introduced so-called integrated security appliances
in the past. However, these immature solutions have included many shortcomings,
especially if function integration is inefficient and poorly implemented. These
shortcomings may include inadequate performance; decreased reliability; limited
scalability; increased management complexity and insufficient security.

Navin Mehra of WatchGuard delves into the details of integrated security devices Ajit Pillai, Country Manager, WatchGuard, presents solution providers with a new approach to secure network through integrated appliances

In many cases, vendors have attempted to integrate by combining older,
complex technologies they may possess through acquisition or licensing. The true
integrated security appliance should be built from the ground up to be
multifunctional, so that all technologies work together in the most efficient
manner. This appliance should have an extensible architecture that allows the
new capabilities to be added quickly and easily as the need arises.

A true integrated security appliance must provide powerful layered defense
against current and future threats, while delivering an economy of scale and
scope that can be passed on to the SME customer. In the best of all worlds, the
appliance is also model-upgradeable, prolonging the life of the initial hardware
investment, and making expanded functionality even easier to implement.

Nelson Johny