Securosis

Research

Summary: Summer

Rich here, When I grew up in New Jersey, summer didn’t really start until June 25th, the day we got out of school. It was weird to me when I moved to Colorado and school ended in May and started in August, but people also used the word “pop” to describe soda, so I figured it was a wacky cultural thing. These days I live in Arizona. Today is June 5 and the temperature should hit 110F. Yesterday it was over 90F by the time I finished breakfast. This. Is. Wrong. I think summer for us started somewhere around the end of January. We have since moved on to a fifth season I fondly call “Ohforfu**’ssakeum”. It isn’t in the books but I am working up a Wikipedia entry. Summer for my children will be very different than I what I grew up with. There’s no simple wandering around the neighborhood looking for your friends, because within a block their shoes will melt and adhere them to the middle of the street, only to be run over by an Amazon delivery truck or one of the 950 landscapers patrolling the area. They’ll get plenty of time at the pool but we need to keep a close eye on them and make sure they jump out every now and then to cool off in the air-conditioned bathroom. Arizona isn’t all bad. For most of the year the weather is about as perfect as you could want. Plus you save a lot on winter clothes. On the downside I miss sweatshirts, and the nearly 20 years I spent cultivating a fleece-based fashion identity is totally wasted. We will be spending a lot of time outside the state this summer. A trip to the Irish festival in Lawler, Iowa (no, I’m not kidding). Then the month of July in Boulder. Then Black Hat and DEF CON for me, and kindergarten for my oldest a week after I get back. But I’m sad for my kids. Summers growing up in Jersey could get pretty hot and muggy, but you could still wander around the neighborhood looking for other kids without having to refill your Camelback 8 times. Then again, rumor is no one lets their kids wander around and experience life any more, so I suppose it won’t make much difference that mine will do the same overly-structured activities as everyone else, but with better air conditioning. But if you make it up to the Irish fest, let me know, and vote for my kids in the Little Lass and Laddie contest. On to the Summary: A quick note: Our posting volume is down to balance some pretty insane demand for our services against family summer time. Don’t worry, we have cool things in store for you coming up. Besides, we still write more than pretty much anyone else who doesn’t get paid by page views. Webcasts, Podcasts, Outside Writing, and Conferences I wrote an article for Macworld on what I learned about upcoming Apple security from WWDC. Favorite Securosis Posts Adrian Lane: Firestarter: Sputnik or Sputput. Sputnik? Nyet! Mike Rothman: Firestarter – Even though I wasn’t there, the show must go on. And it did – admirably. Rich: Cloudera acquires Gazzang. Because it’s good analysis. And the only other thing we posted. Favorite Outside Posts Adrian Lane: Peek Inside a Professional Carding Shop. It’s a good read and I can’t help laugh at the clever use of the McDonalds meme. Mike Rothman: A Hacker Looks at 40. Really good post by Shack. Great to see gratitude, not whining. And there is no question Shack knows exactly who he is. Rich: Rob Graham asks Can I drop a pacemaker 0day? Very well thought out as usual, and hard questions society probably isn’t ready to deal with. Dave Lewis: John Oliver’s net neutrality rant may have caused FCC site crash. You really need to watch it – pure genius. David Mortman: Lego to produce female scientist minifig set. Finally. Gunnar Peterson: Adam Carolla versus patent trolls going after podcasters. Bonus outside link: it takes a minute, but pure awesome once you figure it out. Behold, this is the greatest GitHub software repository of all time. Research Reports and Presentations Defending Against Network-based Distributed Denial of Service Attacks. Reducing Attack Surface with Application Control. Leveraging Threat Intelligence in Security Monitoring. The Future of Security: The Trends and Technologies Transforming Security. Security Analytics with Big Data. Security Management 2.5: Replacing Your SIEM Yet? Defending Data on iOS 7. Eliminate Surprises with Security Assurance and Testing. What CISOs Need to Know about Cloud Computing. Defending Against Application Denial of Service Attacks. Top News and Posts Another big OpenSSL bug. Violet Blue has good details. GameOver Zeus botnet disrupted by FBI. Network Security, Build To Fail. Mounties join crack down on Russian cyber crime. Pirate Bay Founder’s Computer Was “Hacked”, Investigation Reveals. US cybercrime laws being used to target security researchers. DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge Finale Set For DEF CON 2016. Share:

Share:
Read Post
dinosaur-sidebar

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.