Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Fair Market Needed in the Info Economy

    By
    Peter Coffee
    -
    September 27, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The value of a thing is whatever it will bring. So goes the proverbial definition of fair market value, and fair markets are exactly what we need if were going to build any kind of sensible economy based on information as the scarce good.

      Thats why I disagree, collegially but firmly, with the position taken by eWEEK Labs Director Jim Rapoza on the subject of premium-priced early-notification plans for IT security issues.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifClick here to read Jim Rapozas column.

      Unlike Jim, I have no problem with the existence of such arrangements. I believe that the IT market is best served when people are free, in security as in their other technology choices, to find their own equilibrium between what they want and what theyll pay to get it.

      I invite you to imagine (what seems to me) a plausible sequence of events.

      First, imagine that a company decides to staff its IT department with the kind of expert team that can identify, characterize and develop remedial strategies for attacks that affect only the companys own specialized IT installations. Few other companies would benefit from these narrowly focused discoveries, but there would be considerable costs involved in making announcements and responding to inquiries concerning those findings. I see no obligation, moral or otherwise, for that company to share that work with anyone.

      As things progress, however, our hypothetical security team might find that it becomes difficult to draw a clear line between its narrow concerns and broader vulnerabilities. The company therefore decides to spin off that in-house research team into a separate operation, funded initially by the parent company but with a charter to offer the teams services on the open market and make it a self-supporting business unit.

      At first, clients are drawn entirely from the business sector of the parent company, with a client base that quickly expands to include most of that companys competitors as well. Again, though, the operation involves considerable costs that are borne by those that have a need for its work.

      I still dont see any obligation for this boutique security firm to announce its findings to the world at the same time that it provides them to its paying customers. The first priority has to be communicating with those who are paying the bills and answering whatever questions they have. If everyone gets the reports on Day Zero, wed invite a tragedy of the commons: There would be no incentive for any one company to provide any financial support.

      What is the security firm supposed to do if it cant bill for its services? Conduct a pledge drive, in the style made famous by the Public Broadcasting Service? I dont think so.

      Lets now imagine that our boutique firm catches the eye of a company—say, Sun or Microsoft—with a big cash hoard and an eye for ROI in an area that it intimately understands. Our security boutique becomes a wholly owned subsidiary, but the same people do the same things for the same paying customers. Im not seeing any added moral obligation to give away the work, although Id expect that the research does now become available to the new parent company. Its being bought and paid for, dont you agree?

      Finally, lets suppose that this business unit assimilates into its new owner as a rebranded business offering of premium security analysis and field support—still to paying clients. Jim argues, as I understand him, that everyone who might be affected by the findings should be getting their benefit. I dont see, however, where the line was crossed to turn what was clearly work for hire into some sort of public good.

      Jims column asks ironically, “And isnt making more money always the most important thing?” No, of course its not. But people in free markets face choices. IT users can own and operate limited-function systems that use nonproprietary technology, minimizing their exposure to undiscovered soft spots in their systems. Alternatively, they can seek the benefits that are found on the leading edge. But they shouldnt expect elite handholding at no extra cost.

      Technology Editor Peter Coffee can be reached at peter_coffee@ziffdavis.com.

      To read more Peter Coffee, subscribe to eWEEK magazine.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Security Center for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK.com Security Center Editor Larry Seltzers Weblog.

      /zimages/2/77042.gif

      Be sure to add our eWEEK.com Security news feed to your RSS newsreader or My Yahoo page

      Peter Coffee
      Peter Coffee is Director of Platform Research at salesforce.com, where he serves as a liaison with the developer community to define the opportunity and clarify developers' technical requirements on the company's evolving Apex Platform. Peter previously spent 18 years with eWEEK (formerly PC Week), the national news magazine of enterprise technology practice, where he reviewed software development tools and methods and wrote regular columns on emerging technologies and professional community issues.Before he began writing full-time in 1989, Peter spent eleven years in technical and management positions at Exxon and The Aerospace Corporation, including management of the latter company's first desktop computing planning team and applied research in applications of artificial intelligence techniques. He holds an engineering degree from MIT and an MBA from Pepperdine University, he has held teaching appointments in computer science, business analytics and information systems management at Pepperdine, UCLA, and Chapman College.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×