Winter 2010

In the 2010 edition of Computerworld’s Forecast Survey on IT Priorities, the 312 IT management respondents were asked to list the technologies they felt are most critical to their organizations today. Security topped the list, miles ahead of the second choice. It was the same in the 2009 survey. And the 2008 survey. And the 2007 survey.

It would be unfair to conclude that IT management simply cannot resolve the ongoing security challenges, resulting in it being the #1 challenge year after year. Rather, data security is not a goal. It is an ongoing journey being made continuously perilous by the shifting nature of security threats.

For example, hackers and cyber thrill seekers were once among the biggest security threats. Today, the greatest threats come from international cyber cartels seeking to profit from stolen identities, phished data and other nefarious activities.

We at Dell have long recognized the very dynamic nature of security threats. And for that reason, we have advocated a layered approach to data security. Take a read through our lead feature in this issue of Catalyst, beginning on page 14. You’ll get a good sense of how this approach just might give your company the security to allow you to sleep better tonight — and every night. The bottom line with layered security is that multiple threats require a multifaceted approach to securing data.

Also check out how one of our customers switched to a full Dell cloud infrastructure for hosting their disk encryption product, marrying security and cloud computing in a most compatible way (see page 18).

And if you are in the throes of trying to stay up with potential security risks cropping up among the growing masses of mobile users in your organization, you have plenty of company. This is a major concern in businesses of all sizes. Our feature article on mobile security beginning on page 10 is loaded with practical tips and recommendations you can deploy immediately to secure the Wild West of mobility.

I know you’ll enjoy and benefit from this issue with its special focus on a most special subject: data security. Good luck!

	Jeff Hamlin President, Consumer, Small and Medium Business Dell