Security Threats Loom Over Unified Communications, Report Finds

    Customers' failure to properly implement security is increasing the

     likelihood of a major, successful attack on UC systems, says Light

                      Reading's VOIP Services Insider



    NEW YORK, July 16 /EMWNews/ -- The potential for major security

breaches of unified communications (UC) systems is escalating, and the

biggest problems are arising from the improper or incomplete use of

security features by business and enterprise users, according to the latest

report published by Light Reading's VOIP Services Insider

(http://www.lightreading.com/entvoip), a subscription research service from

TechWeb's Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com).



    Unified Communications: A Sense of Insecurity examines security issues

in the UC market, providing an in-depth examination of what attacks are

likely in the UC arena and where those attacks are likely to occur. It

examines measures vendors are developing to provide security for UC

platforms, including how to protect against attacks, as well as plans for

security in the field. Additionally, this report provides a comparative

analysis of 12 top companies in the UC industry and how their products

address UC.



    For a list of companies covered in this report, please see:

http://img.lightreading.com/evi/pdf/vsi0708_companies.pdf



    "Even as vendors put technologies in place to provide protection from

the threats that exist, as well as from impending threats, the likelihood

of a major and successful attack on UC systems is growing for one simple

reason -- end-user failure to implement security techniques properly,"

notes Denise Culver, research analyst with Light Reading's VOIP Services

Insider and author of the report. "Simple measures such as encryption

aren't utilized by customers, even though their UC platforms enable such

protection, leaving vendors to wonder what kind of disaster must occur

before enterprises realize the need for implementing the security measures

on their UC platforms."



    Culver notes that while UC services run by service providers appear to

be less prone to attack because security measures are more likely to be

deployed properly, end-user misuse could trickle up to affect larger UC

installations. For that reason, service providers are relying heavily on

technology suppliers to build better and easier-to-use security mousetraps

that can be deployed by enterprise users, she says. Suppliers that stress

the cost factor in SaaS deployment are likely to make the biggest inroads

with smaller customers, Culver says. "Vendors are working diligently to

build more security into their UC platforms, teaming up with third-party

security experts and, in some cases, with vendors that normally would be

considered competition," she adds.



    Other key findings of Unified Communications: A Sense of Insecurity

include the following:



    -- Enterprise users represent the most glaring point of vulnerability

regarding potential UC security breaches



    -- Third-party specialists in UC security are emerging as an important

factor in protecting UC applications, even with vendors that already have

security measures in place



    -- The potential damage from a major UC breach is leading major

competitors like Cisco, Microsoft, and Avaya to work together to establish

tighter UC security



    Unified Communications: A Sense of Insecurity provides critical data

and analysis for a range of industry participants, including:



    -- Unified communications technology suppliers looking for an

independent assessment of the UC security market and opportunities



    -- Network operators evaluating deployment of UC security platforms and

applications



    -- Investors needing a better understanding of the scale of the

opportunity that UC security presents, and which companies are best

positioned to take advantage of that opportunity



    Unified Communications: A Sense of Insecurity is available as part of

an annual subscription (six issues) to Light Reading's VOIP Services

Insider, priced at $1,295. Individual reports are available for $900.



    To subscribe, or for more information, please visit:

http://www.lightreading.com/entvoip. For more information about other Light

Reading Insider research services, please visit:

http://www.lightreading.com/research.



    To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on

multi-user licensing options, please contact:






    Jeff Claudino

    Director of Sales

    Insider Research Services

    619-229-9940

    [email protected]



    Press/analyst contact:

    Dennis Mendyk

    Managing Director

    Insider Research Services

    201-587-2154

    [email protected]

    About Light Reading



    Founded in 2000, Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com) is the ultimate

source for technology and financial analysis of the communications

industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and

reputation. It reaches an extensive audience of executives and

technologists within the telecom and enterprise networking communities, as

well as the financial/industry analysts and investors who track these

sectors. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August

2005, and operates as a unit of UBM.



    About TechWeb



    TechWeb (techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology

media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology

decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most

respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market.

Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively

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TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise,

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the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN

Magazine, Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides

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integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of

United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and

specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than

$2.5 billion.



    * 13.3 million business decision-makers: based on # of monthly

connections