Auckland, 18 May 2009 – Internet and data security – a major risk to New Zealand business – is starting to gain some much needed attention.  Two recently published articles outline some of the facts, showing that New Zealand needs to up its game on security.

An article published in the NZ Herald mentions a global survey showing that NZ SME’s are more susceptible to IT security breaches and loss of confidential data.  The survey finds 58 per cent of New Zealand SME’s have been victims of IT security breaches involving data being lost, stolen or accessed without authorisation.  This compared with 41 per cent globally.

Other statistics, even from those who should be the fiercest protectors of our information – the NZ Government – provide security-risk examples that make for scary reading.  A stuff.co.nz article says that 95 per cent of the main government agencies surveyed in New Zealand made ‘portable storage devices’ (PSDs – the most common of which is the USB Memory Stick) available to their staff.  This presents very serious and very real risks to all New Zealanders – the risks that government staff could unintentionally or intentionally steal, misplace, or loose sensitive personal information.  This type of risk to sensitive information applies to a business and its own staff as well.

It is staggering to see the lack of security employed by most small to medium sized businesses in New Zealand.  Many reasons for this might exist.  Perhaps it’s a lack of education and awareness of the security risks to business.  Maybe it’s due to a lack of affordable solutions available to most SME’s.  Or, maybe it’s both and more.

This lack of security in New Zealand is what has motivated NATCOM to develop the SLAM™ firewall technology and security appliance – now a standard feature of all NATCOM OneSERVICE™ fibre Internet services for businesses in New Zealand. 

SLAM™ performs many functions critical to the efficient and effective use of secure business Internet.  It provides managed firewall protection, content access control and performance reporting through the use of intelligent, adaptive and flexible built-in policy-based software.  The SLAM™ managed security service can be adapted to accommodate the many data security needs of business. 

Security is a service process, not a static product.  SLAM™ delivers where ‘off-the-shelf’ firewalls fail due to its design for security monitoring and proactive defences.  As a managed service, SLAM™ adapts to the changing Internet and data security environment with constant updates and managed security policies.

New Zealand’s relaxed attitude to security needs to change.  At NATCOM, we’re playing an important part to effect this change.

URLs Referenced:

NZ lagging in sensitive data security (NZ Herald)

Kiwis’ personal details exposed (stuff.co.nz)

NATCOM SLAMâ„¢ Appliance

NATCOM OneSERVICEâ„¢ Fibre Internet for business