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From the November 2, 2001 print edition of the The Tampa Bay Business Journal

Waging war on cyberterrorism

Network security tightens up after attacks

Pamela Griner Leavy - Staff Writer

Businesses throughout the Tampa Bay area wage their own wars against cyberterrorism. Ed Martin, security manager at Sykes Enterprises Inc. in Tampa, makes data and physical security decisions for the e-commerce and customer relationship management call center company which includes international financial firms among its customers.

Sykes always has been cognizant of network security needs, but plans have been tightened up and layered since Sept. 11, said Martin, employed at Sykes since last year.

His previous data and security employment includes a network technician position at Cox Target Media and a Department of Defense multiyear information security career.

"We have been on the ball for much longer than just the last month, not only within our own department but the company as a whole," he said.

"We are being a bit more vigilant than usual in how we address the network security side of our operation and physical security side. We receive an awful lot of information directly from clients and need to safeguard it to be compliant with contractual agreements and industry best practices."

While Sykes hasn't received a cyber or physical threat, Martin heeds global security expert warnings about malicious code viruses, data-user access identification needs and facility security issues, he said.

Security experts point to physical breaches -- penetrations of a company' sticks and bricks parameter layers -- as the biggest threats. Along with highly-publicized hazardous mail threats, intruders who could destroy data systems by setting fires or stealing servers remain industry concerns.

Now other avenues for attacks exist, too.

"The possibility of receiving a biohazardous or explosive device in the mail is on everybody's mind," he said. "The other thing we are vigilant about is who has access to our sites and why. We keep a close eye on that."

Martin advises other businesses to layer security systems.

"Physical security, network security, personnel security, layer it all together," he said. "When something gets through one layer of security, it may not get through subsequent ones."

William Cross, information systems director at Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc., also has put his company on alert.

The Sept. 11 events, followed by the recent reports about an off-course Piper Arrow plane flying near the Florida Power Corp. Crystal River nuclear plant, have led to heightened security.

"We've added physical security at our power plants, tightened our electronic security and our monitoring has been enhanced as well," Cross said. "I know that industry-wide there is a heightened sense of security and security's importance. The best example of that would be found in the nuclear (power) plants."

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Vulnerability issues

The vulnerability of all American businesses to cyberterrorism attacks that could cause billions of dollars in business losses and cripple communication systems is being analyzed at the national and state level.

A recent survey by the public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP indicates security breaches cost global corporations more than $1.39 trillion in revenue last year.

And a 2001 Computer Crime and Security Survey of 538 U.S. data security workers showed that 85 percent detected security breaches within the past year and approximately $378 million was lost to online vandals and cyber criminals.

Florida legislators have joined federal lawmakers in drafting new cyberterrorism laws.

"The focus this year is on the Sept. 11 tragedies, and we have to focus on cyberterrorism and strengthen theft laws and identify security issues," said state Rep. Chris Hart IV, R-Tampa, at a recent Tampa technology conference.

On the national level, Forbes Magazine reported in its Oct. 22 issue that a cyberterrorism attack took place six days before the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The target was at Richardson, Texas-based InfoCom, a communications company offering videoconferencing, voice mail, Web hosting and encrypted e-mail.

The Forbes article said "an 80-man terrorism task force launched a three-day raid, crashing 500 Internet sites, freezing bank accounts and copying information from the company's hard drives."

While Forbes reported that government officials hadn't tied the Infocom intrusion to Sept. 11 events, federal government officials have expressed concern about increased computer attacks.

The magazine reported that Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. secretary of defense, included cyberterrorism among the potential threats that are "front and center to us."

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Budget priorities

Meanwhile, budget constraints have forced companies to choose between physical and data security, said Barry Schlossberg, founder and chief security architect at sNet Corp., a Rocky Point-based international cyber and physical security firm.

"It's confusing companies as to where they allocate funds," he said. "Budgets are tight almost everywhere now. Companies don't have the money."

Physical terrorism currently overrides cyberterrorism, said Schlossberg.

"The physical terrorism starts in the mail room as CNN and other media have reported," he said. "Then you think about the physical parameters in the data room, the physical property line and background checks that haven't been done on employees."

However, Schlossberg sees corporate survival currently outweighing security concerns.

"Survival as a business entity, staying in business, pre-empts physical security and cyberterrorism concerns for many small and large businesses," he said.

To reach Pamela Griner Leavy, call (813) 342-2479 or send your e-mail to pleavy@bizjournals.com.

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