IT analysts suggest difficult economic conditions, troubled markets and immature technologies will make IT-related decisions more difficult and riskier. This is an industry-wide reality, but it is especially true for information security.
Research firm Gartner says: "Enterprises are focusing intently on information security, motivated by current events, government regulatory pressure and the promise and challenges of emerging technologies. In 2003, the security market will experience a shift from best-of-breed product configurations to hardware-based platforms with multiple security functions."
The growing deployment of Web services will be another key factor in information security initiatives, partly because Web services are causing companies to reappraise a key element of information security - firewalls. Also, the increasing recognition of the importance of people and management issues will cause widespread reliance on identity and access management solutions.
That is why Unisys UK has partnered with financial services organisation and insurer AIG Europe to provide its customers with security assessment and consulting services. This agreement extends an existing two-year partnership.
Unisys is to conduct independent security assessments for AIG customers using its Zero Gap Planning approach, examining security policies and procedures, including implementing standards and a technical review of the likely threat and impact of security risks such as viruses, crackers and denial of service attacks.
The process will detect unknown security vulnerabilities and Unisys experts will advise companies on reducing those threats.
If security is up to scratch or is brought up to scratch then customers can buy an insurance policy from AIG.
Subsequent breaches will result in protection from first-party information asset and e-revenue losses and any third-party liabilities that occur.
"The partnership between AIG and Unisys has created a new framework for online security risk assessment and protection for UK businesses. Online insurance was previously perceived as complicated and bewildering, largely owing to a limited understanding in the industry," says Colin Buchanan, senior VP, financial lines division at AIG International.
"This is a new generation of insurance services for UK businesses. Moving forward, Unisys`s worldwide security consulting practice will assist AIG and its customers with security best practice and will help demystify technology and security jargon," says Geoff Tuck, managed services director at Unisys Africa.
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