Holes in the Whole: Crafting Security for the Pervasive Web
James A. Stikeleather
Chief Innovation Officer, Dell Services

In December of 2007, Kevin Kelly spoke at EG, the Entertainment Gathering conference, and looked ahead to the next 5,000 days of the Internet.  Kelly, publisher of Whole Earth Review and executive editor of Wired, said the previous 5,000 days had seen the evolution from connected computers to connected Web pages to connected data.  The next stage, he said, involves merging digital realms with the physical world – tremendous diversity contained within a framework of a single whole web, “The One” as Kelly says. (See his presentation here) 

We are now 1,000 days into the next phase, and it is time to revisit the forecast and direction of the Internet.  In particular, we must understand the implications for security, both as we know it and as it needs to be.  Our application of security and risk management is unequal to the threats in a world of pervasive digital intelligence and connectivity.  The boundary-based binary access security we use today will not continue protecting us, if it ever really has.  Therefore, what can we do in the short-term?  What should we be doing?  And what will the transition and transformation look like?

James A. Stikeleather For more than 25 years, Jim Stikeleather has designed, developed and implemented information and communications technologies that help businesses and institutions succeed. Organizations worldwide rely on Jim for guidance on digital infrastructures, evaluation of emerging technologies, and strategic guidance on applications. He participates in international technology standards bodies and has multiple book and industry-article contributions to his credit. Currently, Jim serves as Chief Innovation Officer for Dell Services, the IT services arm of Dell. Previously, he led technology start-ups and turnarounds as well as the advancement of technology departments within large global enterprises. He was a founder of the Technical Resource Connection (TRC), which was acquired by Perot Systems in 1996.

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