Pausing only to use "whack" technology to reset the slide projector, last night`s discussion on e-security at the Gordon Institute of Business Science focused primarily on policy, or rather, the lack of it in the South African business context.
Part of the challenge in securing a company`s business processes, argued Kevin Isaac, Symantec regional manager for Middle East and Africa, is the paradigm shift facing businesses which, 10 years ago, were fencing off their servers. "We`re now trying to reverse that process, to make information accessible for e-business."
The difficulty arises in the development of security policies, Isaac said. He believes that business should involve their financial, legal and human resources divisions in developing the policies around which the IT division can act.
Patrick Evans, CEO of Foster Melliar, cited trust as the all-important factor upon which successful e-business hinged. Trust, he said, is derived from best business practises such as a definite data privacy policy, active protection of Web servers and their content, back office systems, and secure relationships between Web browsers and Web servers.
Branding indicating the site`s security is also important. "No single industry body is recognised as providing holistic solutions for a secure trusted environment, but I expect we`ll see major developments in this field in the next 12 to 18 months."
"Business processes need embedded security - security is the enabler of business in the e-commerce world," commented Grant Brewer, Ernst & Young director of e-commerce. He added that maintenance of a company`s security on all fronts was important, describing it as a continuing maintenance cycle that had to be adhered to.
Eddie Grobler, MasterCard`s VP of member relations, Southern Africa, cited three drivers in the successful administration of security around electronic transactions as being authentication of cardholders, and confidentiality and integrity of the transaction. "Our strategy is to educate cardholders and merchants alike as to the best practises."
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