Yesterday’s Network was a Challenge

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Nov 03, 2014

Fiber optics makes delivering data much easier, and the network that this information rides on is able to do the job.

Our cover story by James Marcella, director of technical services, Axis Communications, talks about giving your network a workout. His explanation about light passing through fiber makes all the sense in the world. There are many out there who would have you believe that copper wiring is the way to go. I’m sorry, it just isn’t.

Marcella puts it this way, “Copper...needs multiple amplifications to function over long lengths; the light that passes through fiber optic cable doesn’t diminish, even over many miles.”

Marcella talks about the network workout in several different ways, such as supplanting 1080p with 4K, for instance. Yes, 4K technology will surely be gaining momentum during 2015. The 4K experience is highly anticipated, and it will provide unprecedented detail. The workout also includes adding more intelligence to the edge (software) and introducing smart hardware advancements, such as auto rotation and level assistant.

Gaby Friedlander, CTO, ObserveIT, picks up inside the issue with reasons why video surveillance is not enough. The fact is that the real threat lies with users who have access to data. They are the trusted insider. More than 67 percent of data breaches involve stolen credentials in internal sources, remote vendors and other third-party contractors.

He writes that a new breed of security technology has arrived on scene, particularly that of user activity monitoring. This enables companies to track users and understand what they have done on the computer. The key: The solution starts with the user, rather than the infrastructure.

I think you will enjoy this issue of Networking Security, and as always, if you have an idea or would like to contribute your thoughts, please feel free to reach out to me.

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 issue of Security Today.