IT Security is at the Top of the Agenda for European Companies and Public Authorities

IT Security is at the Top of the Agenda for European Companies and Public Authorities Seventy-two percent of European companies and public authorities rank security as their most important IT issue (Source IDC ), but also recognise it as an opportunity to implement new high value-added services. These are two of the main elements identified in a white paper on security practices in European companies recently published by Steria, a major European end-to-end IT services partner, in conjunction with IDC, the world's leading IT market research and consulting group (IT Security Priorities in a Brave New World). Aimed at increasing European companies' awareness of security issues in an increasingly open economic and technological environment, this white paper examines the importance of risk management in order to protect each company's assets and resources. It pinpoints the issues companies need to address and explores ways of making security a real competitive advantage in addition to its role as protector. The white paper, which can be downloaded from www.steria.com (white papers part), also provides 5 real-life examples, based on reports from Steria's European customers. "Companies are moving away from a defensive and restricting approach to security in favour of a pro-active and global approach, which is more suited to their business challenges. Their reports highlight the fact that security can also bring about new development opportunities, especially where e-business is concerned," says Christophe Hista, Security Consulting Director at Steria. "Large organisations are seeking to boost their image by controlling IT risks. A good example is the public sector, which has integrated this approach into e-government policies," adds Christophe Hista. Steria is a major player in the field of IT security, boasting several hundred dedicated engineers and consultants and over 15 years' experience in the development of large-scale projects where IT security is a strategic, often critical, issue. Steria's security approach is based on three complementary areas of expertise which integrate its customers' business challenges: consulting, backed by tried-and-tested methods, especially for producing master plans and conducting security audits; systems integration, especially in secure messaging, biometrics, smart cards and Public Key Infrastructure; and managed services. Steria has carried out numerous IT security projects in Europe, including; the EURODAC project for the European Commission, using the secure management of fingerprints in asylum request processing; the electronic ID card project in Belgium; the data exchange network for Swedish healthcare professionals; case management for Andalusian courts in Spain and on-line tax payments for the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, secure e-mail with bodies in the Criminal Justice system for the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the UK... About Steria (www.steria.com) With 2002 revenue of ?1.018bn and more than 8,000 employees, Steria is one of the top ten IT services companies in Europe. Present in 12 countries worldwide, the Group is positioned as an end-to-end IT services partner through the mastery of its three core businesses: consulting, systems integration and managed services. Its acknowledged expertise in managing large-scale projects and its range of industrialised solutions in Europe enable Steria to offer its customers a reliable service with commitment to cost and risk control. The Group has strong sector-based expertise in the Public Services, Banking and Insurance, Manufacturing-Utilities-Transport and Telecommunications markets. Created in 1969, the Steria group is a pioneer in employee shareholding, with 31% of its capital being held by employees. Steria is listed on the Premier Marché of the Paris Stock Exchange and in the SBF 120 index. N.B. full documentation on Steria's security offer and a paper version of the White Paper are available on request. Contact: Steria Group Press Office Actus PR Dominique Lambert Agnès Gilbert et Laurent Meggs Tel: +33 1 34 88 64 44 Tel: +33 1 53 67 36 33 e-mail:dominique.lambert@steria.com e-mail: agilbert@actus.fr ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/10/14/20031014BIT00540/wkr0001.pdf