Security 'perfect storm' is a-brewing

More law enforcement and police resources are needed to tackle the security "perfect storm" facing businesses today, a leading tech chief has warned.

Speaking at the RSA security conference in San Francisco this week, Arthur Coviello, president of RSA, said: "A perfect storm has formed around us. It's the technology equivalent of 'do you feel lucky today?'"

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Coviello urged regulators and policy makers to work more closely to tackle the global security threats and said tackling cyber crime needs to be a much higher priority. His warning echoes silicon.com's e-Crime Crackdown campaign, which calls for a dedicated police cyber crime unit in the UK.

He said: "We need more resource for law enforcement. Let's punish criminals not businesses."

Coviello also called on members of the US Congress to approve a cyber crime bill passed by the Senate in 2007 to force greater disclosure around security breaches.

But "cumbersome" regulatory environments are stifling much needed innovation and research into combating changing and growing security threats, he warned.

He said: ""When is comes to security's impact on business performance, it's clear we haven't hit our stride."