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CIO Forum: Security 'industry and users misled' claims Lynch
Autonomy founder knocks the trends of consolidation and outsourcing...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: Monday 27 September 2004

Dr Mike Lynch, the founder of Autonomy, today spoke out against two growing trends within the security industry – the move towards consolidation from vendors, large and small, and the increasing hype surrounding managed security services.

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural 'silicon.com CIO Forum', Lynch said CIOs do not want to see further consolidation in the IT security industry over fears of a limited selection of homogenised, non-specialist security products and said he personally had already been stung by handing over control of his security to a third party.

"Don't get caught up in the fashions of the time," said Lynch. "CIOs do not like the idea of using the major consolidators' products."

Using the analogy of jet engines, he said passengers on an aircraft would not like to look out the window and see "Honda" on the engine. "Not that there is anything wrong with Honda, but airplane engines, like security products, are an area where people like to assume specific specialist knowledge," he added.

Lynch's words may raise more than a few eyebrows given how at odds they are with the latest developments in the market. Recent months have seen a welter of consolidation of both businesses and products and most within the industry only expect to see more.

Similarly, he advised caution where the move towards outsourced security is concerned.

"If something goes wrong - and it will – there isn't somebody I can just go and grab."

Lynch warned against being wooed by that latest three-letter acronym – in this case MSS (managed security services).