Tech Alone Can't Stop Security Breaches, Says ChoicePoint CISO

Responding to criticism in wake of Feb. incident, Baich says issue transcends IT

By Jaikumar Vijayan

July 4, 2005 12:00 PM ET

Recommended

Computerworld - A massive data compromise at ChoicePoint Inc. earlier this year has made the Alpharetta, Ga.-based data aggregator a target for those calling for tougher data-protection laws . In an interview with Computerworld, Rich Baich, ChoicePoint's chief information security officer, talked about the breach, the measures that have been put in place since then and the inherent lessons for other CISOs.

You have in the past said that what happened at ChoicePoint was not really a security breach. Then what was it? It all comes down to how you define a breach and how you define an incident. This was fraud. Someone fraudulently provided authentication to the system. It's no different than credit card theft and credit card fraud. Those are never referenced as IT-related issues, though they happen millions of times every year. People are trying to point to a person, when we really need to be looking at things as an industry.

But wouldn't better IT controls have helped? Sure. As an industry, I think we have gotten better with our fraud analytics tools. There's technology that can do geographic IP locations. There is some technology that can help mitigate the risk -- not stop it.

So are you doing anything differently now? Yes. We are looking at our entire credentialing process, the entire business process and how it's being done. We are looking at putting additional technologies in place and [at] the way we do business with others.


Rich Baich, ChoicePoint's chief information security officer

What's the take-away from that whole incident? What's your advice for CISOs? If you are going to have this role at a time when there is really no firm guidance, make sure you have selected a model to implement. If you have selected a model and you are implementing a program around that model, you can be successful.

Why are we hearing about so many major data compromises these days? What's happening? In general, more organizations are reporting it. But I also think the processes and the technologies have matured so that they are now realizing it. You have to remember, an incident is an incident only if it's reported. So, as frightening as it is, there is also a positive end to it because at least the people are catching it.

Will the concern generated by the recent spate of data compromises inevitably result in more mandated controls? When people want to put controls in place, it may be difficult, because what controls do you put for what kind of information? The

Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

Security

Additional Resources

WHITE PAPER

Do You Know the 7 Steps to Successful Data Migration?

Approximately 60 percent of data migration projects overrun time or budget, while some fail completely. Download this white paper, "Enhancing Your Chance for Successful Data Migration," to learn the critical steps you need to take to execute a data migration project with minimum cost and risk to your business.

WHITE PAPER

Total Cost of Ownership of Server Computing Vs. PCs

Read the Gartner research note to learn why the TCO of a server-based computing deployment used to deliver all applications to users is around 50% lower than that of an unmanaged desktop deployment.

WHITE PAPER

IDC White Paper: Linux in a Global Recession

Economic downturns have a tendency to accelerate emerging technologies, boost the adoption of effective solutions, and punish solutions that are not cost competitive or that are out of synch with industry trends. This IDC White Paper presents the results of an IDC survey of 330 companies in Western Europe, Asia/Pacific and the Americas that measures the receptiveness to Linux and takes into consideration changing views driven by the disruptive economic environment that businesses face today.

White Papers & Webcasts

Share our Strength
Download Now

Lower the Cost and Complexity of a Mobile Workforce through Automation
Download This Resource Now!

Top 10 Things to Know about Data Protection
Download Now

Managing Mobility: Improve Data Security, Compliance and Manageability
Download This Resource Now!

Top 10 Actions a CIO Can Take to Prepare for a Hurricane
Download Now

Managing Secure File Transfer to Save Time, Money and IT Resources
Learn how companies are using innovative technology to overcome these challenges and improve user productivity by offloading e-mail attachments and replacing FTP with...

Ponemon Study: The Business Risk of a Lost Laptop
Download Now

Security Convergence Equals Network Security Cost Savings
Listen to IBM Internet Security Systems' take on network security convergence.

Airport Insecurity: The Case of Lost Laptops
Download Now

Disaster Recovery 2008: Reduced Costs and Improved Performance
How long can your Enterprise afford to be without your data? With an accelerated disaster recovery program, you never have to answer this...

All White Papers | All Webcasts