2011 IT Security Predictions

Coming from 2010, there is still many solutions and issues that will get more attention, check out my earlier post "Recap on 2010 IT security Predictions". This is more in continuation of earlier post. However it brings out the needed security for the new things that have happened

13. Google Mail vs. Facebook Email / Messaging service and Security? [New]
Google is going to get hit badly as every facebook user (which very likely is gmail user) will be moving away from gmail to facebook messaging. I personally feel it is not good for the user. It is always good to have certain things separate – social profile and email should be kept separate. Facebook will also follow advertisement revenue from you.

14. Identity Consolidation [New]
Too many password and too many credit cards, all need to be come together to have one id and one card. Google checkout, Paypal and now Facebook Credits all are coming in so still the security is short of it. Even if Google is promoting 2FA but hackers are cracking 2FA. Strong Security for Identity Consolidation is needed. OpenID is good but it is not there as one Globe ID. Consolidation is the key and it also leads to one point failure scenario.

15. Video Protection [New]
2011 will see exponential rise in video. Skype, iphone 4, ipad 2 (likely with video call feature), Wimax, android based tabs – all this will lead to more videos (calls or contents). Video call security is never considered till now but it will come into life as your videos will be going through many hops and compromise can happen at any level. Video protection needs some good products to come into market.

15. Tablet World but Is Open good? [New]
Android based tabs will flood the market. It is a open platform which makes it prone for malware, spyware, virus etc. Enterprises will have a nightmare managing them as people will have data everywhere. Tabs are going to become more popular so data protection, email protection, message protection, anti theft all these need to be considered for enterprise usage.

16. NFC is here but where is the security ?[New]
Google Android announced new phone model coming out with NFC support. There are few SIM manufacturers (like Taisys) which have got NFC enabled SIM offered for PrePaid Transactions. It is certainly the future but there is a inherent technologuy risk - anyone can manipulate data. All I need to do have a trans-receiver sit in like Starbucks. Without you even knowing your NFC card will be charged. This is a serious threat to this technology and products. Be sure of what you use NFC for?

17. Cloud is coming - Private Or Public ?[New]
Cloud is the next buzz word and it is great for large enterprises and SME as no need to invest on infra, desktop, applications. Every thing will be a service. Companies like Arcot, Tricipher have been bought over by CA and VMware. This clearly shows the Cloud Infra companies are certainly looking for strong identity protection. Private Or Public should not matter if the security is well taken care off. One of the issues will always be increase in the bandwidth usage and it might become a bottom neck as Cloud, Software as a service become more popular. Said that, many promising technologies are coming to address to the offer more bandwidth.

It will be another exciting year. Look forward to 2011.

regards,
vikram