Technology Security Standards

Technology moves quickly as do hackers and thieves. As soon as the latest technology is released, hackers begin to find holes in application security, network security, computer security and windows security. There isn’t a hole they don’t seem to be able to find!

Because of this constant threat, security experts are always working on new standards and identifying new risks. Recently, a group of companies worked together to create guidelines designed to assist technical professionals in testing the integrity of the anti-virus and security software that protects your home and business computers from intrusive spyware, malware and viruses.   

The intention of this new coalition of companies is to identify techniques for open testing and guidelines for publishing test results and identifying and categorizing the nature and scope of malware and other threats. Those using these guidelines will find it easier to develop test scripts and rank the security integrity of new software products and utilities in a standard fashion.

It is unclear whether a certification process will follow. In the past there have been some attempts at creating a certification process to verify software security rankings. It is impossible to certify products against threats that are identified immediately after certification, so any such ranking system might mislead buyers.  

In spite of the absence of certification, the guidelines developed by this organization will be helpful in defining test standards and establishing a common language and technique for use by all technology professionals.  

Given the threat of identity theft and the plethora of invasive techniques used by hackers and would be thieves, information security may be the most critical issue of this decade. Partnerships that merge the financial resources and industry knowledge of top technology companies will do much to defeat this threat and reduce security issues for home and business technology users.