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

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

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