A "real benefit" to the company, IT security chief says
By Tim Ferguson
Published: 11 April 2008 11:51 BST
Experian is embracing open source software as a major part of its tech strategy in the future.
The company previously shied away from open source due to concerns about support and security but the acquisition of several companies already using the software has caused a shift.
A-Zs…
1. Security from A-Z…
2. Biometrics from A-Z…
3. Broadband from A-Z…
4. Wireless from A-Z…
5. Green IT from A-Z…
Experian is now looking to implement more open source software across its business and make sure software already being used is deployed efficiently and securely.
Speaking at the RSA security conference in San Francisco, Barbara Fennell, business information security officer at Experian, said: "We began to see a bit of a culture clash forming. Our strategy was in direct conflict with the new companies being acquired. We really needed to bring all these cultures together."
But despite the influx of open source into the group, senior management continued to have concerns about the technology.
Richard Maathey information security manager at CheetahMail - one of the acquired businesses already using open source - said: "We had to appeal to management's desire to integrate new companies."
The company held an open source summit to look at the role open source could play during which it was discovered Apache open source software was already being used in the company.
Fennell said: "We took stock of the situation and saw open source was being used in our organisation. We really didn't want to be in a situation where our policy was out of step with our practices."
She added: "We agreed that open source represented a real benefit to Experian."
Following the summit, senior management came on board and the company set about creating guidelines to implement open source securely and effectively.
Fennell explained: "Our goal at Experian is to use open source and its benefits without compromising security. Managing risk is really much better than avoiding it."
re offering a competitive, negotiable (depending on experience) salary, share options, an open and fun working environment where movies are the main ...
Experience with webservers such as apache, IIS, Sun iPlanet / netscape is desirable. Integrate software applications to deliver synergy from the ...
You should be familiar with applications from several of these program groups, and have a good understanding of the principles involved, even if you ...
Agenda Setters 2008
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.
Stories from the web...
Copyright © 2008 CBS Interactive Limited. All rights reserved. Top of page
Nick Heath
David Lister on smart grids and why he left RBS
Interview: National Grid CIO
Andy Jones
Why banks will push ahead with offshoring
Comment: Even if they don't want to
Catherine Stagg-Macey
Legacy IT holding back insurers
Comment: Economic crisis means finance giants must step lively
Julian Goldsmith
The City fund manager with no IT department
Q&A: How asset management is embracing the cloud...
Peter Cochrane
Peter Cochrane's Blog: How tech can solve the banking crisis
Bring on a machine-based economy
Peter Fawcett
How financial turmoil will shape outsourcing
Comment: Deals on hold and all eyes on cost