Online security is about the most important infrastructure concern for small businesses. Owners should pay attention, because the vendor world is going through some changes that could make life easier and, most importantly, safer.
Here are two examples: Recently, Symantec launched "Security 2.0," which is intended to be a more comprehensive and holistic approach to security. Reports say that part of the effort focuses on providing enterprise-level security to consumers and, presumably, small businesses. In addition to catering to the lower end of the market, Symantec is expanding to include tangential elements, such as compliance, in the product.
Another example of the changing face of security is the introduction earlier this year of Microsoft's OneCare. This is the first standalone security product offered by the company. As one may expect, Microsoft getting into a business—any business—is a big deal. Another example of increased attention to security products also involves Symantec. Last summer, the company teamed with Yahoo to offer the Norton Internet Security Suite.
There surely are more examples. The bottom line is that Internet security—always a fast-paced subject—is evolving more quickly than ever. A lot of this activity is aimed at small and medium size companies, the new darlings of the vendor community. This means several things, all of which are axiomatic of sectors gaining increased attention: There will be more products available, and these products will be more differentiated from each other, more granular and, pound for pound, cheaper.
That's pretty good. Small businesses should take a fresh look at their security infrastructures, and keep in mind that their options likely are far greater now than when they originally bought their products.
