PRIVATE INTERNET OFFERS ONLY EXTORTION FREE FUTURE TO GAMING AND BETTING SECTORS
2006-01-23
The private communications networks already used by some of the world‘s largest content providers and ISPs to bypass delays in cyberspace, represent the only viable long-term alternative for the gaming and gambling sector to eliminate the risk of successive direct denial of service (DDOS) attacks, costing billions in lost revenues each year.
This was the opinion of PacketExchange, one of the UK‘s leading technology companies, which today presented a dedicated workshop on how to bypass the ‘public‘ Internet to gaming and betting experts at the prestigious ATE ‘Combating Cybercrime In Betting & Gaming‘ event held in central London. The event is part of the leading international exhibition for the casino and gaming industry (ICEi)
PacketExchange CEO, Kieron O‘Brien, highlighted the level of exposure that firms currently face in the context of the way in which information (transit) is currently moved around the globe and controlled by internet service providers. He made the case strongly for improved understanding of the potential threats (including those affecting upstream suppliers) and by way of solution, proposed increased use of shared private networks with inbuilt security which operate outside the ‘public‘ Internet. This is appropriate given the weaknesses of the internet as we know it which herald from its origins as a tool for academic institutions to share data.
He commented:
“As soon as information touches what we know as the ‘public‘ internet, it is vulnerable to manipulation by cyber extortionists – a problem which becomes particularly acute for betting companies at the time of international sporting events and the associated peaks in revenue streams. Even now, there is an incomplete understanding of the technology that is available to eliminate this risk and the extent to which suppliers manage this problem. The industry is facing a problem of potentially epic proportions and has to work together to manage the situation now.”
PacketExchange‘s solution is based on the use of its ProXimity wide area peering network which enables corporates to ‘peer‘ or exchange information with each other without it crossing the Internet. The technology is the proven basis by which companies of the calibre of Microsoft, Google and Telewest address data communications objectives and in recognition of which, PacketExchange was ranked as the UK‘s 14th fastest growing technology company last year by Sunday Times Tech Track.
The true extent of the damage inflicted by DDoS is unclear, owing to the fact that many businesses are loath to admit that they have been a victim of cyber extortion and therefore may be vulnerable to future attacks. However estimates suggest that this is likely to be in excess £2.4bn in 2004*. If network access or systems are critical to the business, then DDoS counter-measures should be part of the business continuity planning and a realistic budget for security set.
