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LONDON -- The Infosecurity Europe 2011 conference kicked off today with panel discussions on two important issues for security pros: How to manage security on a budget, and what to do about smartphones. The answer to both, it turned out, is good risk management. You need to move from having a security policy to having a security strategy for the business. Steve Knight, information security officer, Aspen Re An opening session brought together CISOs from the insurance, retail and the legal sector to discuss the question: “When do you stop spending on security? ” In other words, how do you decide when the company is secure enough? Michael Colao, head of information security at insurance underwriters Beazley Group, said that moving from his previous job at an investment bank was a revelation. “Working for an insurance company has completely changed the way I understand risk, ” he said, because the whole insurance industry is based on making clear assessments of risk, and then putting a price to it. “If I say that something unlikely but expensive could happen to us, they’ll ask how unlikely and how expensive. These are calculations they are used to making, ” Colao said. “You can’t use fear, uncertainty and doubt with these people. We convert risk to money, decide what it will cost to control, and then make the decision. ” Andrew Rose, CISO at law firm Clifford Chance, proposed a similar approach, adding that it is necessary to build a common set of terms across the company so every department looking at risk will have common standards by which to judge what constitutes, for example, a “catastrophic” risk. Rose added that, rather than setting the security budget first, it makes more sense to assess risks, assess the costs of controlling them and then match them to the organisation’s appetite for risk. That way, any budget demanded will be fully justified. And don’t be afraid to talk down your own budget. Colao said that, on occasion, he has done a risk assessment that showed spending could be cut in some areas. “It buys you a lot of credibility if you can demonstrate a willingness to cut budget when you can, ” he said. However, the discussion moderator Wendy Nather, a security analyst with the 451 Group, pointed out that all those on the panel were from large organisations, whereas a lot of smaller companies live below what she called the “security poverty line, ” where they have no dedicated security people and often just a small IT department. “Your risk tolerance can be very high when you have no money, ” Nather said. Risk management also dominated the following session, in which participants tried to decide whether smartphones were a boon or a curse to business. Gary Cheetham, CISO at insurance company NFU Mutual, reported that members of his company were pushing to use more mobile devices, despite his misgivings about some smartphone security issues. Michael Everall, CISO for Lehman Brothers Holdings, said he was also in the process of rewriting his company’s mobile usage policy to accommodate demand for a wider range of mobile devices. They and others on the discussion panel agreed it was futile to resist the rise of the smartphone and mobile tablets, such as the iPad, but they all worried the devices (with the exception of the BlackBerry) were built primarily as consumer devices and were difficult to manage from the point of view of security and policy. Everall said trying to support a growing range of devices is too difficult. “The device is not the issue. Our goal should be to look after the data and focus on the basics of confidentiality, integrity and availability, ” he said. Various mobile device management products were considered by the panel – Good Technology Inc., MobileIron Inc. And Sybase Inc. Were all mentioned as having useful products – but technology was only part of the answer, the panel concurred. Cheetham said the risks need to be explained to the company, and the appetite for risk defined. Everall added this should include a change of approach that ensures users understand both the risks and their responsibilities when they choose to download corporate data onto their personal mobile devices. “[Users] need to understand that the data still belongs to the organisation, and they have a responsibility for its security, ” he said. User education: Cheap but effectiveA prevalent theme during the day’s events was the power of good user education, training and awareness in managing and assessing risk. Lehman’s Everall favoured lunchtime sessions with users, with pizza provided, where he could explain why security mattered and why the security department was implementing policies. Users were also given free security software for their home systems. When he joined Beazley, Colao carried out approximately 140 interviews with people around the company to get their views on what mattered and where risks were, and this helped refocus the company’s security posture. He has maintained strong links with departments to ensure security is seen as a benefit to business rather than a blocker. “User education can be far more effective than a large technical investment, ” he said. Steve Knight, information security officer at reinsurance company Aspen Re, who spoke in the security budgeting discussion, had also carried out workshops wherein workers from multiple departments had participated (with sandwiches provided) and where they helped rank the seriousness of a whole range of risks. This close relation was also fostered by running sessions to help users secure their home computers. “Good security should be just part of the routine of the business, ” Knight said, “not contained in a separate policy document. You need to move from having a security policy to having a security strategy for the business. ”

The 109th China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, was opened on Apr 15. The number of participants and the scale both created historical high. Participants said the export price generally increased 5-10% due to higher cost and RMB appreciation. A producer said some of their popular products even saw an increase of 20%. Most purchasers showed their understanding for the increase and it did not affect orders much. However, the vice general manager of Ningbo Huamei Threads said some foreign customers have shifted some of their orders to Southeast Asia after the price was adjusted up. The export orders for textiles and apparel did not see any apparent increase during the fair. If RMB appreciates 1%, the profit of producers will reduce about 5%, which compelled producers to lift export prices. Industry players still suggest companies to face RMB appreciation, creating their own brand to win market share.

Not so long ago, phone and CCTV systems worked reliably over their own wires, isolated from an organisation’s data network. We are trying to educate the market, and show the issues around the threats. Ian Kilpatrick, Chairman, Wick Hill Group But that is changing fast with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony and IP-based CCTV. These systems use the same data lines and protocols as the data network, making them cheaper to run and easier to manage. But, in the process, they are now prone to the same threats as the corporate data network. To prove the point, distributor Wick Hill Ltd. Will demonstrate at Infosecurity Europe how easy it is to hack into VoIP and IP-CCTV systems, and carry out damaging attacks. Wick Hill Chairman Ian Kilpatrick said the problem exists because of a general lack of awareness of the dangers. Companies that once sold and installed analogue systems have moved on to the digital generation without fully appreciating the new dangers, he said. “Vendors of Voice over IP phone systems and IP/CCTV are still playing catch-up when it comes to security, because it was never much of an issue when they were still in their analogue days, ” he said. “Some PBX vendors even deny there’s a problem, and claim everything is safe. ” Many of the threats are based on old-fashioned toll fraud, where calls are channelled through the digital private branch exchange (PBX) to premium-rate phone numbers, usually overseas. But VoIP security risks can also include eavesdropping on calls, call interception, the altering of billing records, denial-of-service attacks and the hijacking of PBXs so criminals can sell minutes on to their clients. Furthermore, the digital PBX can provide hackers with an undefended channel to the data network. “If I can break into your phone systems, there will be a bridge to the data network. That bridge is behind the firewall and is typically undefended. It is not perceived as risky, ” Kilpatrick said. “The biggest problem at the moment is the lack of awareness of the problem, as with all security. ” Similarly, he said that if hackers can break into a CCTV system, they can effectively turn it off, or get it to replay old footage while a crime is happening. Kilpatrick will run three demonstrations of how the attacks could take place -- one against a CCTV system, another against a digital PBX, and a third wherein calls are intercepted and recorded. In this third scenario, if hackers could secretly record customers giving credit card numbers over the phone, organisations would be exposed to fraud, and be in serious violation of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Research just published by Kaspersky Lab claims to show that more than three fifths (62%) of IT managers claim that security issues are an obstacle to the increased adoption of cloud security technology. The online research, which has been published today to coincide with the opening of the Infosecurity Europe show in London, suggests that only 41% of respondents are planning to migrate their IT resources to the cloud. The study, which was conducted earlier this month by YouGov and took in responses from more than 150 middle managers in firms of 249 or more employees, found that almost one in five (18%) managers said their businesses had considered – but rejected – the idea of moving any aspect of their IT resources to the cloud. In addition, says Kaspersky, almost a quarter (24%) had not even considered the cloud as an option. And with 79% of the survey’s respondents representing firms with 1, 000 or more employees, Kaspersky Lab says that companies could be missing out on significant cost and efficiency benefits. Andrew Lintell, the IT security vendor’s sales director for the UK and Ireland, said that cloud technology has huge potential for streamlining IT operations, particularly in larger organisations with more sophisticated IT requirements. "Cloud-based solutions can make IT systems leaner as well as more agile and cost effective – freeing up valuable IT expertise and resources", he explained. Lintell went on to say that Kaspersky’s research has found that there is still considerable confusion about the cloud. Companies, he says, may be concerned about where data is stored and how they can keep it secure, but they should also view the positive gains.

Bracknell, UK, 13 April 2011 - 3M, the diversified technology company, will address increasing business user demands for visual security on media tablets by previewing its new range of 3M Privacy Screen Protectors on Stand C82 at Infosecurity Europe (19-21 April, Earls Court, London). The new product range will be shown for the first time alongside 3M’s portfolio of laptop and desktop privacy filters. Available now in gloss finish, 3M Gold Privacy Filters for laptops offer a narrower viewing angle but only for the authorised user positioned directly in front of the screen. "According to a recent Gartner report(1), by 2013 80 per cent of businesses will support a workforce using tablets, said Nick Hughes, Marketing Manager, 3M Mobile Interactive Solutions Division. "In anticipation of this dramatic growth, we will be launching a new range of 3M Privacy Screen Protectors for tablets in the summer of 2011. Visitors to the Infosecurity Europe stand will see an early demonstration of how effective they are in safeguarding on-screen data from unauthorised viewing and helping to achieve visual data compliance. " Also on the stand will be the 3M Gold Privacy Filter for laptops and existing black privacy filters, which are also suitable for desktop monitors in an office environment. The new gold models are designed to offer IT security executives and business professionals a combination of style, enhanced security and market leading clarity and brightness. The black and gold filters are simple, reliable protection tools that fit neatly over laptop screens, and can be readily removed and stored when privacy is not required. They are specifically designed to restrict anyone positioned to the side from seeing private data on the user’s screen while travelling or working in a public environment. The first 250 visitors that register at the 3M stand will receive a gold or standard black filter for free (they will need to be carrying their laptop, or a record of their laptop size, make and model, or they can check on the 3M Product Selector via www.3M.co.uk/privacyfilters).

ProPhotonix Ltd of Salem, NH, USA, a designer and manufacturer of LED systems and laser modules (as well as a distributor of laser diodes for Opnext, QSI, Sanyo and Sony), is to distribute two new high-power laser diodes launched at January’s Photonics West 2011 conference by optical module and component maker Opnext Inc of Fremont, NJ, USA. The HL40023MG, a 500mW 404nm-wavelength violet laser diode, is suited to applications such as biomedical illumination and optical lithography. Current biomedical and direct imaging system makers often use large, power-hungry solid-state laser diodes, says ProPhotonix. The HL40023MG offers manufacturers a more cost-competitive option to use a high-intensity diode in a small 5.6mm package. With a low typical operating current of just 390mA, it also saves on power, helping to lower overall operating costs. The HL45023TG is the first in a family of blue laser diodes planned for development. It has been designed specifically to meet the demands of embedded mobile pico-projector applications, but it is also suited to fluorescence and sensing applications. With a unique and proprietary design, the HL45023TG provides 60mW of optical output power at a wavelength of 445nm while consuming 30% less power than existing, commercially available blue lasers. A maximum operating temperature of 70ºC and small 3.8mm package size suit the growing market demand in embedded and mobile device applications. “The great relationship between our companies, coupled with the market presence ofProPhotonix, will uncover many new opportunities in a variety of applications for these new laser devices, ” reckons Bob Murphy, Opnext business development director for North America Sales.

Tokyo, Apr 11, 2011 - (JCN Newswire) - Showa Denko K. K. (SDK) and NovaCentrix, of the United States, have agreed to cooperate in the promising area of printed electronics. SDK will manufacture and sell conductive inks developed by NovaCentrix through a licensing agreement, and jointly develop conductive inks to be used with NovaCentrix’s Photonic Curing(TM) process technology. It is also agreed that Shoko Co., Ltd., SDK’s consolidated subsidiary, will start serving as sales agent for NovaCentrix in Japan and part of Asia as from this month concerning NovaCentrix’s PulseForge(R) Photonic Curing tools and Metalon(R) conductive inks. The term "printed electronics" refers to the technology to manufacture electronic devices through printing. Compared with conventional methods of separately forming layers of semiconductors, metals and insulating materials, the printed electronics technology enables substantial simplification of manufacturing processes. The technology is expected to find wide-ranging applications, including displays, solar cells, and organic EL lighting. NovaCentrix is a privately-held company in the United States with notable accomplishments in the area of wiring technology, which constitutes an essential part of the printed electronics technology. In printed electronics, conductive wiring is formed through printing with metallic-particles-containing inks (conductive inks), and sintering of those metallic particles with heat treatment. Because of the necessity of heat treatment, it is generally considered that application of printed electronics to plastic substrates is difficult. However, NovaCentrix’s proprietary technology involves high-speed sintering with visible-light flash lamps, restricting the rise in temperature and enabling the use of plastic substrates. Furthermore, the system uses films as plastic substrates, enabling production with the efficient roll-to-roll process. SDK will fully utilize its metal, inorganic and organic material technologies in its joint development, aiming to develop conductive inks optimized for NovaCentrix’s Photonic Curing(TM) system. SDK will aim to improve the performance of existing conductive inks, thereby achieving durability and conductivity equal to those of conventional copper foils and other bulk products. Conductive inks are now used in some of the components for smart phones and solar cells. While its market is estimated at JPY 30 billion at present, the market is expected to grow to JPY 100 billion by 2020. With the tie-up with NovaCentrix, SDK will accelerate R&D for the growing printed electronics market. SDK and NovaCentrix will participate in the 1st Printed Electronics Fair, which will start at Tokyo Big Sight on April 13 as part of the 21st FINETECH JAPAN.

Mulcahy Conway Associates is pleased to report a cluster of previously unannounced deals ahead of the London Book Fair. The agency anticipates a busy fair selling rights to a wide range of titles, in conjunction with their translation agents ILA. Yesterday, Francesca Main at Simon & Schuster UK and Samantha Martin at Scribner (S&S) USA acquired, for six figures at simultaneous auctions between UK and US publishers, World English Language rights to Wendy Wallace’s historical novel The Painted Bridge. The book is co-agented by Ivan Mulcahy and Laetitia Rutherford. Italian rights were pre-empted by Mariagiulia Castagnone, Editorial Director of Piemme. Andrea Best at Goldmann (RH Germany) acquired German rights in a substantial overnight pre-empt, to A Devil Under the Skin, a debut crime thriller set in London and Poland by Anya Lipska. The author’s book is again co-agented by Mulcahy and Rutherford. Alex Foti at Il Saggiatore acquired Italian rights to 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism by Mulcahy’s author Ha-Joon Chang. Published by Allen Lane (UK) and Bloomsbury Press (USA), this title has now been sold in fifteen languages and has become a publishing phenomenon in the author’s native South Korea, where over 450, 000 copies have been sold since its publication in November 2010. Last week 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism was long listed for the 2011 Orwell Prize. Mulcahy sold world rights to Freddie Mercury, the Definitive Biography by Lesley-Ann Jones to Hannah Black at Hodder & Stoughton for high five figures at auction. Publication will coincide with the new film about Freddie Mercury starring Sasha Baron-Cohen and scripted by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen, The Other Boleyn Girl). George Gibson at Bloomsbury USA just acquired NA rights to Ian Kelly’s biography Shakespeare: The Actor (to be published by Picador UK) from Mulcahy. In a major six-figure five-year licensing deal negotiated by Jonathan Conway, Simon & Schuster acquired world rights to publish books from the archive of Country Life magazine. Katy Follain at Michael Joseph bought world rights from Conway to St John Greene’s memoir Mum’s List after a lively six-figure auction. In another six-figure auction, Conway sold world rights to Celebrity Masterchef winner Lisa Faulkner in a two-book deal with Francine Laurence at Simon & Schuster. Rolf Zettersten, Publisher at Center Street (Hachette USA) acquired NA rights to world champion Iron Man triathlete and world-record holder Chrissie Wellington for a high five-figure advance. UK rights to her story had already been sold by Conway to Andreas Camponar at Constable & Robinson. Ingrid Connell at Macmillan won an auction for UK rights to Guard a Silver Sixpence, a nostalgic family memoir by Felicity Davis, another of Conway’s authors. Jake Lingwood at Ebury acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to Shane Spall’s travel memoir Voyages of the Princess Matlida in a two-book six-figure pre-empt from agent Laetitia Rutherford. The author will co-promote with her husband, actor Timothy Spall. Rutherford sold world rights in The Frog Princess, a warm-heartened rags-to-riches memoir by former beauty queen Angie Beasley, to Daniel Bunyard at Michael Joseph.

Year of 2011 is undoubtedly regarded as the golden time for China’s printing industry to grasp opportunities of innovation and development as the global gloom receded gradually. As the most influential trade fair in China’s printing industry, the 4th All Print in China with the themed “Synergy of Print and Digital Era” will highlight the importance of integration of data innovation to the printing sector amid growing information and communication, and demonstrate environment-friendly printing trends in recent years. Adhering to the achievement and experience of last three shows, the 4th All in Print China will continue its role as the premier printing trade fair in Asia and empower you to success in this new era of China’s printing industry. Interpreting Trends of Chinese Printing Industry You Can’t Miss: Digital Printing and Printing Digitization Technology Green Printing Solutions Tailor Made Special Zones to Highlight Your Featuring Products and Technologies Green Printing Zone Label, Bill and Receipt Printing Zone Ink Zone Education Zone Visit www. Allinprint. Com for more information and online pre-registration as distinguished visitors. More information: Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Tel+86-21-6169 8300 Fax+86-21-6169 8301 Emailallinprint@mds. Cn Press contact: Ms. Tina Qiu Eel+86-23-6232 8000 Fax+86-23-6232 8001 Emailpress@mds. Cn

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 6, 2011) – At ISC West, Panasonic System Networks Company of America is demonstrating its technology leadership with the introduction of an innovative full-function pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) dome camera with 288x zoom capability, plus five new Dome Cameras and a Coax-LAN Converter. The power of Panasonic security and surveillance solutions and their ability to enhance physical security operations will be demonstrated to ISC West attendees through a series of situational experiences, including education, retail, corrections, healthcare and gaming applications. "Panasonic continues to deliver rich and connected technology solutions for a wide variety of video surveillance and security applications, " said Bill Taylor, President, Panasonic System Networks Company of America. "Customers can use these high quality and proven product resources to more easily build a security system in a digital, analog or hybrid format to help better protect and safeguard people, assets and premises. " One of the highlights in Panasonic’s ISC West exhibit is the new i-PRO SmartHD WV-SC384 1.3MP PTZ. A full-function dome PTZ, the unit captures highly detailed images with 720p HD resolution and 288x zoom operation along with the ability to multi-stream full-frame 1280x960-pixel images at up to 30 images per second. In addition, the unit incorporates a host of performance features including on-board face detection. Added to the Fixed Dome Analog Camera product lineup and introduced at ISC West is the WV-CF504 high resolution camera featuring Super Dynamic 5 technology. New and improved functionality and image quality are achieved with the fusion of Super Dynamic, Adaptive Black Stretch (ABS), Intelligent Video Motion Detection (i-VMD) and Auto Back Focus (ABF) technologies. Also introduced and new to the Fixed Dome Analog Camera series are the WV-CW364S and WV-CW334S outdoor cameras. These vandal-resistant dome cameras are designed with a number of image enhancing features as well as various adjustment features to ensure outstanding quality video images. ISC West attendees can preview the new WV-SW355 HD (1280 x 960) and the WV-SW352 SVGA (800 x 600) IP cameras. Featuring Panasonic’s newly developed 1.3 megapixel high sensitivity MOS sensor for outstanding image quality and lower power consumption, the vandal-resistant units are scheduled for release in April, 2011. Panasonic is also launching a "must-have" Coax-LAN Converter at ISC West. The new Converter, model BY-HPE111KT, is designed to convert IP camera video data to a wavelet format for transmission on existing coax cable for distances of up to two kilometers. The Coax-LAN Converter can additionally provide PoE (Power over Ethernet) for added functionality.