Demystifying Web 2.0: Opportunities, Threats, Defenses

Overview

Every new technology introduced into the enterprise brings with it new threats. Web 2.0 is no different, with threats including:

• Infection and downtime -- caused by viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware
• Data leaks -- as staff members intentionally share things they shouldn't
• Legal prosecution -- for illegal activities or regulatory breaches
• Productivity loss -- as users spend more time on blogs and social networking sites
• Resource waste -- as servers and networks become congested
• Reputation damage -- one of the above hits the headlines

These threats may look similar to the threat landscape associated with typical Web and e-mail use. But the unique nature of Web 2.0 technologies demand a new understanding and new defenses.

See also: Security Management, Network Security, Intrusion Detection Systems, Spam - E-mail Fraud - Phishing