OSE provides roadmap at TechSec

DALLAS--High-level talk about convergence is great, but what businesses really need is to get into the nitty gritty how-tos of getting people to work together and getting business processes to function smoothly, according to a group of experts from the Open Security Exchange. In a panel discussion Feb. 27 at TechSec Solutions, they provided an outline for how they hope to help businesses achieve that. OSE is a not-for-profit multi-industry association designed to accelerate the convergence of physical and IT security. Moderated by OSE Chairman Gary Klinefelter, vice president of technology for Fargo Electronics, the panel also included David Ting of Imprivata; Laurie Aaron, director of strategic sales for Quantum Secure; Adam Stanislaus vice president of physical security for First Data Corporation; and Derrick Wright, security manager for Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Laurie Aaron said that, frequently, when people talk about convergence "it's all strategic; it's all the 30,000-foot view." What the OSE is trying to help people do is "break it down" and help businesses discover what "convergence means to your organization." To do that, OSE will be introducing an interactive web-based tool that will give businesses a roadmap and case studies with information on issues such as ROI to help convince upper management that it's wise to invest in a converged solution. Chances are, Aaron said, the driving force behind a converged solution is one of five things, "compliance, cost control/productivity, shareholder value, asset/personnel protection, and continuity." Adam Stanislaus noted that a successful converged solution meant getting people to work together. "Today if you look at First Data, you see one policy and one process," he said. When First Data evaluates a new initiative, the physical security and IT staff "look at it together ... there are experts on both sides and you need them both." Wright of Baxter Healthcare Corporation said a converged solution creates operational efficiencies and the most important issue was to "align the physical security department with the business goals of the organization."