March 10, 2004, 4:00 AM PT
By Jon Oltsik
CNetnews.com

The security industry is in the midst of a transition, one that promises to profoundly change the way businesses think about the subject

In many respects, it parallels how the creation of the Web browser reshaped people's thinking about the potential of the Internet.

Recall that the advent of the Web browser helped transform the Internet from a clubby insider research vehicle to an essential piece of the global business infrastructure. But the system also needed to become more reliable, easier to use, and better integrated into business processes before its potential could be reached.

Similar demands now attend the field of information security thanks to the accelerating intersection of security and business. One sign of the changing times was on full display last month when Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates was invited to deliver the keynote speech at the RSA Security conference. Microsoft's record obviously stirs passions in the security industry, but there is little doubt that the company definitely gets it now.


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