Cloud computing hot topic at Gartner Security Summit

Gartner’s local security analyst Andrew Walls says data security will be a burning issue at this year’s Security Summit, while buzz terms such as ‘cloud computing’ will also be explored.

“The top issue at the Sydney Summit is data security,” said Walls. “It is a necessary part of a security program and is big because it reveals the limitations of a purely technological approach to security."

In addition, recent high profile breaches around the world have invoked interest amongst local organisations.

"There hasn't been that much data loss happening here but being a security person I assume that these terrible things are happening, but nobody talks about them,” said Walls.

Meanwhile, analysts will also hold seminars on cloud computing, a term which has surged into the public sphere this year.

“I’m nervous about cloud computing,” said Walls. “It’s become a big phrase [but] we’ve been talking about computing in the cloud for 15 years.

“There’s still a big debate about what it exactly means. I tend to want to specify aspects of cloud computing. For example software-as-a-service is an example of a cloud computing," said Walls.

Advice from analysts in this area will include explanations about how to provide security for software-as-a-service or how to actually secure data held in outsourced data centres.

The Gartner Security Summit will be held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre on 23-24 September 2008.