Web Watch

When Threats Numbered Only 39
September 06, 2006
In the early 1980s, the banking industry got a wake-up call. Lloyds of London was underwriting a new rider to its blanket bond coverage -- computer crime insurance. To justify paying the huge premiums, bankers wanted to know if they were at risk. So I went to work and developed a program called "39 Steps to Better Security." ... I acted out the role of the perpetrator, and the bank CIO (and his team) presented installed mechanisms that would block the threat. If they blocked it, they won. If they couldn't block it, the perpetrator won. That's how we measured the risk so we could deliver a scorecard to the CEO.

The Simplest Answers
September 1, 2006
Here's what every bank in the world needs in order to be at its peak performance: (Ed. note: This list has been edited for space.)
1. First and foremost, a core system that satisfies users in the conduct of their daily activities.
2. A good platform automation system where "good" means a lot more than a new account or loan origination module.
3. An integrated imaging system that includes checks, documents and almost anything that was ever on paper.

This Is a Pretty Dull Time for Bank Technology
August 21, 2006
There's nothing really new, hot or compelling enough for bankers to jump into the tech marketplace and engage in shopping sprees. We're now in a decade of single-digit annual budget increases (7 percent), and this for the first time in four decades. I hope Yogi was right when he said it ain't over till it's over.