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CLOAKWARE WARNS TO RE-EVALUATE DATACENTER SECUIRTY.


In light of major security breaches, Cloakware Inc., Vienna, Va., the provider of proven software solutions for securing business and digital assets, is cautioning large organizations to re-evaluate their current datacenter security measures for shared privileged passwords -- accounts that administrators use to install, configure and maintain servers, databases, enterprise applications, mainframes, etc. across datacenter operations -- to avoid being the next in line for a devastating breach. In today's volatile economy, Cloakware, understanding the ramifications of critical security incidents to global organizations, offers three tips for companies to be proactive, protecting critical information and assets from unwanted access.

With the current economic downturn, now more than ever an organization's sensitive data is at risk. Downsizing, restructuring, mergers & acquisitions can all leave security gaps in which disgruntled employees, contractors or creative hackers can steal information or compromise systems. This can result in tangible and intangible costs, including loss of data, loss of profit, lawsuits, and damage to the company brand, ultimately, wreaking havoc that companies simply cannot afford.

In fact, battered mortgage giant Fannie Mae, a recent bailout recipient, just announced they had discovered a worm that was intentionally planted by a disgruntled former employee. Adding insult to injury, this worm, if executed as it was planned on Jan. 31, 2009, would have wiped out millions of mortgage records and locked out the system access for a week - exposing mortgagees and the government to unfathomable repercussions. While this was averted by an F.B.I. sting, most companies are not so lucky.

To prevent the type of devastation and havoc one person can inflict on a company, Cloakware offers three tips for companies to take a proactive approach to prevent breaches and protect company assets. They include:

1. Know who has access to privileged information 2. Apply appropriate policies to protect sensitive information 3. Update security and access credentials regularly to monitor and maintain control

Fannie Mae's averted disaster is only one of many recently publicized breaches. It is less than 12 months since a rogue employee at Societe Generale executed a series of "elaborate, fictitious transactions" that cost the company more than $7 billion. Moreover, last week Heartland Payment Systems disclosed that it may have compromised tens of millions of credit and debit card transactions in what may prove to be the biggest data breach in history. Other industry leaders like T.J. Maxx, Monster and even the City of San Francisco have all been compromised - falling prey to lax password management enforcement policies that have damaged consumer trust and hurt the bottom line.

"Especially for organizations that are downsizing or restructuring, it's critical to protect the company and its assets by being aware of who has access to sensitive information," said David Canellos, Cloakware President and Chief Operating Officer. "It is the trusted insiders, who if unchecked, can inflict the most critical damage."

About Cloakware

Cloakware, an Irdeto company and part of the Naspers group, provides innovative, secure, proven software technology solutions that enable customers to protect business and digital assets in enterprise, consumer and government markets. Cloakware's two main product lines include; Cloakware Datacenter Solutions which help organizations meet governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) objectives for privileged password management while ensuring business continuity and the security of mission-critical data and IT infrastructure. Cloakware Consumer Product Solutions protect software and content on PCs, set-top boxes, mobile phones and media players. Protecting more than one billion deployed applications, Cloakware is the security cornerstone of many of the world's largest, most recognizable and technologically advanced companies. Headquartered in Vienna, VA and Ottawa, Canada, Cloakware has regional sales offices worldwide.

For more information, visit http://www.cloakware.com or call 866/465-4517, ext. 277 or 212/255-0080, ext. 11.

COPYRIGHT 2009 Worldwide Videotex Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.

Copyright 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.


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