Network security will remain the hardest nut to crack (bad pun) for many years to come. Why? Because security itself is a perpetual problem. As long as we have humans around, anyway … Many vendors and researchers are working on ways to extend the firewall concept to full-function Internetworking. They will not be done tomorrow.
Predictor: Lynch, Daniel C.
Prediction, in context:In an interview for InfoWorld in 1994, Jayne Levin, editor of The Internet Letter, asks Daniel C. Lynch, “How can companies best protect their networks from intruders?” Lynch replies: ”Ah, yes. Security. Networking. Let’s see: secrecy and sharing. All together. Seems kinda contradictory. Network security will remain the hardest nut to crack (bad pun) for many years to come. Why? Because security itself is a perpetual problem. As long as we have humans around, anyway. The Internet was created without much security included. We relied on the security of the individual operating systems residing on the hosts that were connected to the Internet. Then along came PCs and Macs. No concept of security was built into them. They were for individuals. And of course Unix was for professionals. And various the servers that have sprung up have each brewed their own set of security mechanisms. So, how is an administrator or network manager to know how to run all these security mechanisms” Not realiable, eh? The current way to keep people out of your corporate Internet is to run what is called a ‘firewall’ at the edge of your internal Internet … Variations of this approach exist … very constrained functions running in well-understood configurations in order to be sure you have plugged all the leaks. This is a stopgap measure. It does not allow for full functioning Internet access. Many vendors and researchers are working on ways to extend the firewall concept to full-function Internetworking. They will not be done tomorrow.”
Biography:Daniel C. Lynch was the founder of CyberCash Inc. (Entrepreneur/Business Leader.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: Security/Encryption
Name of publication: InfoWorld
Title, headline, chapter name: To Dream the Internetworking Dream
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Vol. 16, Issue 18, Page S72 ISSN: 01996649
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: McAlister, Rory