Taking E-Security To A Higher Level.

• Author: McCarthy, Mary Pat
• Position: E-Commerce Security

The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in September -- and the events that have transpired since then -- have drastically changed the way business is conducted across the industrial spectrum. Sectors ranging from automotive to retail to telecommunications face harsh new realities, filled with previously unimaginable threats and a multitude of complex issues, both financial and emotional.

For starters, physical security has become a critical aspect of daily business life, with companies now more sensitive to employee safety and asset protection. Business continuity plans have also taken center stage, as companies seek to assure clients and employees that business will continue to operate, even under the most daunting circumstances (see article on page 20).

But even as companies place priority on matters of physical security, they cannot afford to lose sight of the dangers that exist within the virtual world. Companies have grown reliant on the Web to conduct business, manage supply chains, communicate with employees and customers and complete digital transactions. These digital processes have been fueled by a company-client relationship that's been built on trust. Without trust, the benefits of e-business are at risk in the inherently non-secured arena of cyberspace.

As the Web has grown into a critical component for conducting business, Internet security -- protecting companies from sabotage, viruses, theft and a wide range of devious attacks -- has become essential. Considering how indispensable e-security can be to a company's brand and bottom line, it's unfortunate just how many executives haven't given Internet security the priority status it deserves.

A comprehensive e-security plan -- among clients, as well as internally -- can help generate new business opportunities, enhance customer experiences and avoid costly liabilities. Internet security also plays an increasingly important role in protecting market share, as investors gauge just how committed a company is to preserving the bonds of trust in a digital environment.

While the climate since Sept. 11 should have raised greater concerns about Internet security, many still soft-pedal the issue. Consider this: e-security breaches worldwide cause nearly $15 billion worth of financial losses each year, not to mention the potential legal and insurance costs.

Electronic theft alone should be alarming enough to persuade organizations to erect e-security safeguards. Assets...