Physical and IT security 'will converge'

Links between physical and virtual security must be thought through, according to Computer Associates’ head of security software The head of security software for Computer Associates, Ron Moritz, has warned that the convergence of physical and IT security can increase a company’s exposure to risk if not managed properly. Speaking at a press briefing at the CA World conference in Las Vegas, Moritz — the former CTO of Symantec — told reporters many companies haven’t thought about the ramifications of integrating physical security systems, such as card-access servers, into the corporate network. If managed correctly, he said, the convergence can enhance security through the correlation of physical security events to IT security events. An alarm can be triggered when someone logs onto a workstation using the credentials of an employee not registered as having swiped an access card to enter the building in which the workstation is located, for example. If the systems aren’t properly protected, it may be possible for a computer-based attacker to access physical security controls. Full Story