Securosis

Menu

Research

Friday Summary: May 10, 2012

Rich May 10, 2012 1 Comment

Rich here. It amazes me how something completely mundane can be utterly fascinating the first time you experience it. This morning I woke up about 5:45 as I heard my younger daughter waking up herself. If history held, she had been up for a little while and was ready to get out of her crib. Now!!! Nothing new there, and I started the painful process of getting out of bed (I d hammered my bad shoulder a little too much during my swim workout yesterday, leading to a painful night). Here’s the cool bit. Our older daughter (who is only 3) came barging in to tell us her little sister wanted out of the crib. This is the same 3-year-old who was still calling for us to get her out of her toddler bed a mere week or so ago. Oh, she could easily extricate herself, but the habit of yelling for us to get her was deeply ingrained. She’d sit there yelling for one of us while clutching her stuffed animals and blanket, only to hand them over so she could climb out. So I got out of bed, went down the hall to the little one’s open door, and carried her downstairs. Then I noticed big sister’s stuff already there on her spot on the couch. “Have you been up for a while?” “Yes.” “What were you doing?” “I was giving the cat some treats.” This is, relatively speaking, nothing. We all get out of bed ourselves in the morning and start our days. But it was the first time one of our kids got out of bed, took her stuff downstairs, and played with the cat without waking anyone else up. And 20 years from now the odds are I won’t remember it. But damn – for this one moment I was more impressed and proud of this tiny little thing we all do, and all kids do, than any “big” accomplishments (whatever those are). The best part? She’d even put the cat treats away in the drawer. I think I like this parenting thing. Despite the lack of sleep, large amounts of vomit I’m occasionally covered with, and all the interesting places I’ve now gotten to clean shit out or off of. On to the Summary: Webcasts, Podcasts, Outside Writing, and Conferences Mike quoted on cloud security on ServicesAngle. Rich quoted on 10 years of Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Initiative. Adrian quoted in SecurityWeek on WAF & SDLC. Adrian quoted in Tech Republic on User Behavior Monitoring.. Favorite Securosis Posts Adrian Lane: FireStarter: Policy Wonks and Pests. Yes, my own post. But as Rich said, this is a huge beef we have and we see it all too often with cloud security. Rich: Okay, we were a little light on blogging this week. I promise to make up for it next week! Other Securosis Posts Incite 2/9/2012: Swimming with Sharks. Favorite Outside Posts Mike Rothman: How to make money online. This post actually isn’t about making money. It’s about being successful in today’s online environment. And Godin is a philosopher king, so ignore his guidance at your own risk. Adrian Lane: Citadel Trojan Outgrowing Its Zeus Origins. Interesting post on the RSA blog about the Citadel Trojan – see how attackers improve their code. Rich: Joss Whedon interview at GQ. I’m sorry, but I’m an intense geek and the fact that some studio tossed Joss $220M (far more than most security companies are worth) just tickles me pink. Research Reports and Presentations Watching the Watchers: Guarding the Keys to the Kingdom. Network-Based Malware Detection: Filling the Gaps of AV. Tokenization Guidance Analysis: Jan 2012. Applied Network Security Analysis: Moving from Data to Information. Tokenization Guidance. Security Management 2.0: Time to Replace Your SIEM? Fact-Based Network Security: Metrics and the Pursuit of Prioritization. Top News and Posts Random network security tip if you are on TV. Amusing. Getting started with OpenStack in your lab. Now where were you when I was building the CCSK class labs? Sigh. Apple hardens Safari and OS X with latest update. FBI warns travelers about hotel Internet connections. Gee, China anyone? Blog Comment of the Week This would have required us to, uh, blog… so no comment this week. Share:

Share:
Read Post
dinosaur-sidebar

Research

view all

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Totally Transparent Research is the embodiment of how we work at Securosis. It’s our core operating philosophy, our research policy, and a specific process. We initially developed it to help maintain objectivity while producing licensed research, but its benefits extend to all aspects of our business.

Going beyond Open Source Research, and a far cry from the traditional syndicated research model, we think it’s the best way to produce independent, objective, quality research.

Here’s how it works:

  • Content is developed ‘live’ on the blog. Primary research is generally released in pieces, as a series of posts, so we can digest and integrate feedback, making the end results much stronger than traditional “ivory tower” research.
  • Comments are enabled for posts. All comments are kept except for spam, personal insults of a clearly inflammatory nature, and completely off-topic content that distracts from the discussion. We welcome comments critical of the work, even if somewhat insulting to the authors. Really.
  • Anyone can comment, and no registration is required. Vendors or consultants with a relevant product or offering must properly identify themselves. While their comments won’t be deleted, the writer/moderator will “call out”, identify, and possibly ridicule vendors who fail to do so.
  • Vendors considering licensing the content are welcome to provide feedback, but it must be posted in the comments - just like everyone else. There is no back channel influence on the research findings or posts.
    Analysts must reply to comments and defend the research position, or agree to modify the content.
  • At the end of the post series, the analyst compiles the posts into a paper, presentation, or other delivery vehicle. Public comments/input factors into the research, where appropriate.
  • If the research is distributed as a paper, significant commenters/contributors are acknowledged in the opening of the report. If they did not post their real names, handles used for comments are listed. Commenters do not retain any rights to the report, but their contributions will be recognized.
  • All primary research will be released under a Creative Commons license. The current license is Non-Commercial, Attribution. The analyst, at their discretion, may add a Derivative Works or Share Alike condition.
  • Securosis primary research does not discuss specific vendors or specific products/offerings, unless used to provide context, contrast or to make a point (which is very very rare).
    Although quotes from published primary research (and published primary research only) may be used in press releases, said quotes may never mention a specific vendor, even if the vendor is mentioned in the source report. Securosis must approve any quote to appear in any vendor marketing collateral.
  • Final primary research will be posted on the blog with open comments.
  • Research will be updated periodically to reflect market realities, based on the discretion of the primary analyst. Updated research will be dated and given a version number.
    For research that cannot be developed using this model, such as complex principles or models that are unsuited for a series of blog posts, the content will be chunked up and posted at or before release of the paper to solicit public feedback, and provide an open venue for comments and criticisms.
  • In rare cases Securosis may write papers outside of the primary research agenda, but only if the end result can be non-biased and valuable to the user community to supplement industry-wide efforts or advances. A “Radically Transparent Research” process will be followed in developing these papers, where absolutely all materials are public at all stages of development, including communications (email, call notes).
    Only the free primary research released on our site can be licensed. We will not accept licensing fees on research we charge users to access.
  • All licensed research will be clearly labeled with the licensees. No licensed research will be released without indicating the sources of licensing fees. Again, there will be no back channel influence. We’re open and transparent about our revenue sources.

In essence, we develop all of our research out in the open, and not only seek public comments, but keep those comments indefinitely as a record of the research creation process. If you believe we are biased or not doing our homework, you can call us out on it and it will be there in the record. Our philosophy involves cracking open the research process, and using our readers to eliminate bias and enhance the quality of the work.

On the back end, here’s how we handle this approach with licensees:

  • Licensees may propose paper topics. The topic may be accepted if it is consistent with the Securosis research agenda and goals, but only if it can be covered without bias and will be valuable to the end user community.
  • Analysts produce research according to their own research agendas, and may offer licensing under the same objectivity requirements.
  • The potential licensee will be provided an outline of our research positions and the potential research product so they can determine if it is likely to meet their objectives.
  • Once the licensee agrees, development of the primary research content begins, following the Totally Transparent Research process as outlined above. At this point, there is no money exchanged.
  • Upon completion of the paper, the licensee will receive a release candidate to determine whether the final result still meets their needs.
  • If the content does not meet their needs, the licensee is not required to pay, and the research will be released without licensing or with alternate licensees.
  • Licensees may host and reuse the content for the length of the license (typically one year). This includes placing the content behind a registration process, posting on white paper networks, or translation into other languages. The research will always be hosted at Securosis for free without registration.

Here is the language we currently place in our research project agreements:

“Content will be created independently of LICENSEE with no obligations for payment. Once content is complete, LICENSEE will have a 3 day review period to determine if the content meets corporate objectives. If the content is unsuitable, LICENSEE will not be obligated for any payment and Securosis is free to distribute the whitepaper without branding or with alternate licensees, and will not complete any associated webcasts for the declining LICENSEE. Content licensing, webcasts and payment are contingent on the content being acceptable to LICENSEE. This maintains objectivity while limiting the risk to LICENSEE. Securosis maintains all rights to the content and to include Securosis branding in addition to any licensee branding.”

Even this process itself is open to criticism. If you have questions or comments, you can email us or comment on the blog.