Hidden Security Threats Identified

CTO Describes Impact of Three New Layers of OSI Model on Security Strategy and Architecture

Boca Raton, Fla., Oct. 28, 2008 – SECNAP^® Network Security Corporation, a leading provider of network and email security solutions, has announced the identification of three undocumented layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model by president and chief technology officer Michael Scheidell.

His whitepaper, "Three Undocumented Layers of the OSI Model and Their Impact on Security," details a broad spectrum of security threats that may be posed by these powerful influencers.

According to Scheidell, the undocumented OSI layers are politics, the religion of technology, and economics. These influencers often drive sub-optimal decisions regarding security strategy and technology, which can leave a program vulnerable to malicious intrusion or attack.

"Hidden agendas, special relationships, and other 'political' machinery can cause poor decisions to be made. And everyone is familiar with the huge impact of the economic layer on information technology, today more than ever," said Scheidell. "Potentially just as damaging is an unquestioning faith in certain brands or vendors and the imposition of that 'religion' on information technology projects—regardless of whether it's the right decision, objectively, for the organization."

In addition to real-world examples of the impact of each hidden layer, the Scheidell white paper provides insights for successfully navigating these powerful influencers to help information security personnel communicate more effectively with their organizations' decisionmakers and win approval for their projects.

Interviews with Scheidell have appeared in the September/October issue of Hakin9 magazine and the September issue of VARBusiness, which include mentions of his OSI model theory. A complimentary copy of the whitepaper is available at http://www.secnap.com/pdf/support/downloads/osi-model-hidden-layers.pdf.

About SECNAP
SECNAP Network Security is a leading provider of network and email security solutions for organizations ranging from small businesses to global enterprises. The company's innovations include the award-winning Network Security Solution Powered by HackerTrap™, a patent-pending managed service that protects client information assets; the revolutionary Email Security Gateway Powered by SpammerTrap^®, available as an appliance or hosted solution to prevent malicious email, viruses, and other malware from entering client networks; and expert security and regulatory compliance audits, web application assessments, and penetration testing. SECNAP was one of 10 companies, including Microsoft, honored for shaping information security in 2008 by Info Security Products Guide. For more information, visit www.secnap.com.

Contact: Gail Blount / 561-999-5000 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it