Integrity of annoucing new “Silver Bullets”!

October 16th, 2007 Drazen Drazic Posted in Bad Stuff, Risk Management, governance |

It’s no secret that the major vendors use the press to sell new products, but in the last year or so, I have noticed the journos getting wise to it and questioning whether the speel they are getting from the “security” vendors (you know who they are) is a public service announcement or marketing BS.

Here’s the tip….we know it’s mostly BS……they want the press, and they’re using you to sell their product. (Reader note: yeah…I know I am stating the obvious) But…..your editors know that, and you need to sell subscriptions………..oh and advertising…Where is the balance?

I would like to see more journos question new products.

I have seen the silver bullets for almost 15 years (in security) and never have I seen an article that says:

“Company X released Product Y. Product Y will solve all your security problems they say (DD: like they all do), but I reckon it is all bullshit. This company has been in the security field for 15 years and every new release is supposed to solve the “Enterprise” security problem, but it has not! So why would this new release be something that a (your) company would pay good dollars for?”

As an avid car, guitar, music, sports etc fan…..the mags I buy as part of my hobby(s), I expect to tell me what is good and what is not so good about new products being released. All of them do! They’ll pick every hole in a Ferrari, Fendor, Foo Fighters, All-Blacks (world cup) latest….but…..in our field, every new product in the press is supported by the marketing speel from that company….like it’s fact!

Come on IT Press…..before you talk it….have a look at it, test it, get security guys to pass opinion on it, hit it hard enough to help companies……and then write about it.

At present. you’re giving an easy ride into millions/billions of dollars for these companies whose existance relies on us never being able to secure ourselves.

Sad thing is that us security dudes play a small role in most cases (not always) in the decision making process for costly products like this for major companies that we work for……..money that could be better spent elsewhere.