JISec Editorial

Marcus Goncalves
Editor in Chief
E-mail: Goncalves@arcweb.com  

Marcus Goncalves (Southborough, MA) holds an MS in Computer Information Systems, from SouthWest University, and several years of internetworking consulting in the IS&T arena. He's a Senior IT Analyst for Automation Research Corporation, advising manufacturers on IT, industry automation and Internetworking security, including both Intranets and Extranets.

He has taught several workshops and seminars on IS and Internet security in the U.S. and internationally. He's a member of the International Computer Security Association (ICSA, former NCSA), the Internet Society, the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). Goncalves is the author of several Internet and security related books such as "Protecting Your Web Site With Firewalls," "Internet Privacy Kit," "Internet Security," "NT Management & Control," "Firewalls Complete," "IPv6 Networks," and NT Server Security Guide." He's also a regular contributor for BackOffice Magazine, WEBster Magazine, WebWeek and Developer's Magazine.

In this dog-eat-dog world of competition, Internet security is still a factor that can make or break a company. As companies move deeper into the frontlines of Cyberspace, offering basic e-mail, Extranets and Intranets products or services over the Internet, remote access VPNs, access and authentication controls becomes much more of an issue. This issue of JISec features few articles discussing this very same issue, from concepts to implementation of a secure Internet policy.

If you need additional motivation to read the featured articles, Cahners In-Stat Group, a high-tech market research, firm recently completed a survey on Internet security. Of the 346 companies surveyed, 88% have a Internet/network security policy in place. The most common security components are anti-virus, firewalls, routers and authentication, and conductors of e-commerce are significantly more security-conscious. Below are key findings from the survey that should sober you about this months JISec's featured articles and those to come:

Harness the power of the great equalizer:

• E-commerce has truly emerged as the great leveler of competitive playing fields. Implementation is actually slightly higher among small firms than large firms (44% vs. 36%), though implementation is strong across all segments.

  The Internet has made enormous strides in terms of perceived safety:

• 65% of those surveyed believe the Internet is safe enough for e-commerce in 1998, up from 37% in 1996.
• 71% believe the Internet is safe enough for remote access VPN
• 69% believe the Internet is safe enough for Extranet VPN with partners
• 69% also believe that the Internet is safe for branch office connectivity VPN
• 68% believe the Internet is safe enough for Extranet VPN with customers
• Efforts are still needed to convince corporations the Web is safe enough for their mission-critical applications. Currently one quarter (26%) of the respondents believe the Web is safe for their mission-critical Web applications, and this number is only expected to grow to 38% by 2000. So read on! :-)

Marcus Goncalves
Editor in Chief