For example, we posit that RIAs deployed with Adobe AIR's digitally signed "security model" will be even less secure than RIAs deployed in Web browsers, which at least must execute JavaScript on a Web page inside a security sandbox that prevents the script from stealing information or damaging files if it is, in fact, malicious.
As for virtualization, no matter how excited the CIO may be about running enterprise applications in a VM, if we can't keep data safe, all the savings in the world don't add up to a hill of beans. But is your leadership thinking in these terms, or are the cost reductions promised by virtualizing production systems overshadowing security and privacy?
Frankly, from an infosec perspective, the news isn't good. For our report, Unlocking Virtualization: Facing IT, Business Realities, InformationWeek Analytics polled 348 business technology professionals in a range of industries. Just 25% of respondents planning to deploy virtualization say security is a significant concern. And on a list of eight inhibitors to using VMs in production, security concerns came in sixth (13%) ... just ahead of an inability to manage application health/updates using existing tools (2%) and the ever-popular "other" (1%). Nice, huh? Our advice to security pros: Understand where virtualization zealots are coming from by perusing full poll results and our analysis and recommendations.
Full disclosure: Registration is required for both these reports, and yeah, someone will probably call you. But journalists have to eat, too.
Lorna Garey is executive editor of InformationWeek Analytics. She formerly was executive editor of Network Computing. Special to Dark Reading.