Industry Perspective Don't Let Security Keep You From Collaborating According to an InformationWeek article ("Security Concerns Aside, Don't Stop Collaborating," Nov. 5, 2001), the term collaboration has been cropping up in business and technology magazines, analyst reports, and business discussions as an "essential element of business." J.D. Edwards is a leader in promoting collaborative commerce as the crux of a seamless customer interaction strategy. With heightened concern about cyber terrorism and tighter security, it is important not to steer away from collaboration as a means to conduct business. Instead, embrace it as an imperative that can keep your business processes focused, your employees productive, and keep you ahead of your competition. Just be sure to keep your security measures in check. With the pervasiveness of the Internet, as well as businesses operations being scattered all over the globe, online collaboration is on the rise. In fact, the recent InformationWeek survey of 375 IT managers found that 67% said that supply chain collaboration has increased in the past year ("Security Beyond Your Borders," Nov. 5, 2001). However, as companies share critical business information like sales forecasts, production specs, product designs, and inventory data, only 21% of the 4,500 security professionals who responded to a separate InformationWeek survey said that their security procedures included partners and suppliers — the very folks who are so critical to your collaborative operations, yet the same ones who could unwittingly present outside security challenges when linked to their systems. InformationWeek suggests the following security measures as you increase your reliance on collaboration: Conduct an IT security audit either in-house or with the help of a security audit firm such as Deloitte & Touche, Internet Security Systems, or PricewaterhouseCoopers Implement at least one, and several layers if possible, of firewalls, encryption, and virus-detection software Use sophisticated authentication and authorization tools to validate systems users If appropriate, utilize smart cards, token, biometrics, and public key infrastructure Keep critical application servers and databases out of DMZs, the most accessible portions of an Internet system If necessary, use a private network that's completely separate from the Internet, but be sure to use Internet protocols and web standards to communicate			Home Message from our COO J.D. Edwards Update Industry Perspective Upcoming Events Area Happenings
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