Corporate Network Security Trends: Designing For Integrated Protection

Corporate network security is increasingly becoming a design consideration rather than a matter of "retro-fitting" security appliances and software, according to industry consultants. Alphawest's national business continuity manager Tim Smith said the company has seen a new trend this year . . . Corporate network security is increasingly becoming a design consideration rather than a matter of "retro-fitting" security appliances and software, according to industry consultants. Alphawest's national business continuity manager Tim Smith said the company has seen a new trend this year in networks being designed to meet security concerns. "Like anything, if you have the opportunity to build it from the start it should be more secure. In some cases companies are doing complete network re-designs for security purposes," Smith said.

Smith said the main security consideration is determining the critical assets which must be considered in network design. "One of the turning points in secure network design is a move to tidy up what is in place," he said. "Before you can continue to build in security you need to clean up."