21 Jan 2009

Expert: Reduce IT security costs by restructuring

Firms are being advised to look at their existing department structures and make alterations to reduce the cost of IT security.

Industry experts have recommended the changes to key areas, which Stuart Okin, managing director of Cosmic Consulting, believes can be made with the minimum of upset and do not have to be "for the sake of it".

"With a centralised agenda, as well as a clear cost focused business case, security programs and operations are going to be implemented faster and more efficiently, with an overall improvement to the enterprise's risk position," he said.

Areas such as the consolidation and optimisation of security controls were highlighted as a measure that will improve processes by removing old systems which have been repeatedly layered upon by updates.

Utilising security features across business divisions and taking advantage of software already inbuilt in systems were identified as further effective yet cost-cutting measures.

Meanwhile, the Identity Theft Resource Centre has released a report with tips on how to protect personal and corporate data and details of incidents such as the theft of a laptop from a US bank containing the details of 3,235 customers.