Technology To The RescueTechnology To The Rescue

Privacy-enhancing technology is an evolving category that refers to a wide range of products and strategies. Definitions vary, and there's significant overlap with security technology, but there are some interesting distinctions IT managers should be aware of.

Policy Tech:
The Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium as a way to automate interactions between Web browsers and P3P-enabled applications and to communicate to users pertinent information about the privacy policies of the Web sites they want to visit. Most Web browsers incorporate some form of P3P, as do many of the most popular Web sites.

Network Monitors:
They watch the flow of traffic over networks in real time, both internal to organizations and with the outside world, and help identify data leaks or unusual behavior.

Identity Management Systems:
They control how employees interact with corporate systems through entry methods such as sign-ons and passwords; reconcile multiple instances of a single individual within various systems; and shut off access to systems when employees are "deprovisioned" (let go).

Personal Tech:
Anonymizers and cookie cutters help PC users keep their Web travels to themselves; firewalls, e-mail filters, and anti-spyware tools help keep intruders from penetrating PCs and pilfering data; encrypted laptop disks and flash storage devices help keep mobile data safe.

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