RSA : Microsoft Pledges Support for OpenID
With breaches being reported every week—often after the loss of a laptop computer—companies need to think beyond locking down the perimeter of their networks, Mundie added. "The threat model is changing in fundamental ways. We could continue to invest in this fortress mentality of protecting everything, but I don’t think that would be sufficient," he said. "Our castle is fairly porous because a lot of our assets leave the castle."
One attendee was not impressed by Microsoft’s broad vision.
"This was the most content-free presentation I’ve seen at RSA in years," said Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer with BT Group’s Counterpane unit. "My guess is that most people in the room could have given that talk because it’s where we all want to go."
The keynote, in which Gates and his successor sat side by side and, at times, finished each other’s thoughts, appeared to be a symbolic handing over of power, Schneier said.
Gates will be stepping down from his day-to-day duties in July 2008, at which point Mundie will take over Microsoft’s research efforts.
But Schneier doesn’t expect Gates to appear at next year’s conference. "The take-away is Craig’s coming back next year, but Bill isn’t," he said.
—Robert McMillan, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)
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