Predictions for 2012

So what will 2012 look like?

1) APT and DDoS attacks will continue to plague businesses
High profile targets will continue to bear the brunt of increasingly sophisticated APT type attacks and humans will yet again prove to be the weakest link in security. DDoS attacks will also rear its head with layer 7 appellation type attacks becoming more common.

2) Consumerization of IT (and apps) 
The BYOD trend will continue, and this will increase the number of applications used in the workplace. Expect to see mobile malware becoming a real threat to enterprise security.

3) The rise of social media
The use of social media at the work place will be here to stay. Enterprises will need to improve their network awareness to allow their employees to safely use the social web and improve IT security training to minimize the effectiveness of phishing.

Other 2012 security predictions:
>> Key concern for 2012? Application DDoS attacks - Help Net Security
>> 2012 Threats Predictions: An Industry Roundup - Info Security
>> 2012 tech predictions: From IDG's editors worldwide

2011 - A Year to Remember

Oh 2011, what a year. A year largely remembered for the great number of data breaches, control of the Internet and the deaths of some famous people. So in no order of importance, here is our take on the top stories of 2011.


The passing of Steve Jobs

The death of Steve Jobs was undoubtedly one of the biggest stories this year. He leaves behind a great legacy and innovation (some say mania) that will likely be unsurpassed by any other CEO. For Apple, this could well be a turning point in its history and for it to soldier on without one of the most iconic leaders the IT industry has ever had.

>>The Revolution According to Steve Jobs


The year of data breaches

This was probably one of the worst year when considering the number of data breaches, and an acronym APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats) has been the hot topic ever since. The spotlight was on RSA, and the loss of crypto-keys for its SecureID tokens.

Besides having to offer free replacements, the company also shook customer confidence. Then there was Sony who lost the personal data of some 70 millions subscribers and cost the company $170 million. Most of its users (like me) had to reset our Play Station Networks (PSN) passwords. And by year's end, intelligence analysis firm Stratfor had its customers details exposed, amongst them, US, UK and NATO military officials.

>>The RSA Hack: How They Did It

>>Sony Hacked Again; 25 Million Entertainment Users’ Info at Risk
>>Stratfor Hack: Anonymous-Affiliated Hackers Publish Thousands Of Credit Card Numbers 

Egypt shuts down the Internet

With social networks becomes an integral part of everyday communication; it invariably becomes an enabler of social and political activism. With the cooperation of international firms, Egypt took the unprecedented step of cutting off its mobile and Internet services in the country to prevent political dissent.

>>Egypt Shuts Down Internet, Cellphone Services


Other articles worth a second read :

>>Top tech stories of 2011: From Jobs to Android, Anonymous to Egypt - Computer World

>>2011’s biggest security snafus - Network World

Company Roundup

2011 was a good year for Niometrics
Some noteworthy accomplishments:

• Feature in the Infocomm Development Authority’s (IDA) newsletter IN.SG
• Emerging Technology Merit Award by the Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SITF)
• Exhibited at industry security event, Govware 2011
• Successfully organized its his first Partner Breakfast Briefing

Whats in store for 2012?

• Start-up Asia, Singapore, 1-3 February
• Partner Breakfast Briefing, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 15 February
• The RSA Conference 2012, San Francisco, 27 February - 2 March
• Demo Asia, Singapore, 29th February - 2 March
• And more....