Survey: Security a Concern in Product Rollouts

A survey by IBM Internet Security Systems has found that security concerns are impeding carriers’ ability to fully roll out new service offerings such as IP-based voice and television services.

According to the survey, 55 percent of respondents indicated that security issues are impeding their ability to roll out triple-play quad-play service bundles; 78 percent said security is vital to the long-term viability of VoIP; and 30 percent said IPTV is not secure at all.

More than 50 managers and executives from some of the world’s largest carriers participated in the survey.

“Carriers have been challenged to deploy new IP-based services that can match the quality and reliability of the services they hope to replace – namely traditional phone and television services,” said Clarence Morey, director of carrier strategy of IBM Internet Security Systems. “Now that these services are ready for the mass market from a quality and performance standpoint, security has become a gating concern.”

The survey also polled carriers on their plans for services that would enable businesses to outsource their core security functions such as firewalls and intrusion prevention rather than performing them in house. The results showed a gap between strategy and execution, with 41 percent saying the so-called “in-the-cloud” services will be a major revenue generator within three years and 78 percent said it will happen within five years. However, 49 percent said they did not have the core competency today to offer those services.

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