VMware security coming to the forefront?

Many virtualization analysts punt on the issue of security. But two recent events have brought security into higher relief: the uncovering of VMware’s file-sharing security flaw and VMware’s announcement of VMsafe, a virtual appliance that adds a layer of security to apps running on virtual machines. While VMsafe attempts to address VMware’s file-sharing problems, the flaw has raised questions about VMware security and the security of virtualization technologies in general.

In a recent SearchSecurity.com article, one interviewee said that after testing virtualization, he determined that putting virtualization into production would require reworking tried-and-true centralized security controls. Another interviewee expressed concerns about future problems, particularly a breach involving the hypervisor.

But we aren’t the only ones asking questions about security for virtual environments. At Rational Suvivability, author Christopher Hoff takes a different angle:

Virtualization up until now has quietly marked a tipping point where we see the disruption stretch security architectures and technologies to their breaking point and in many cases make much of our invested security portfolio redundant and irrelevant.

Has virtualization brought a whole new set of security requirements? Has your company explored or purchased virtualization-specific security software? Share your security-in-virtual-environments experience, and we’ll send you a $10 Starbucks gift card. Email me at hdrake@techtarget.com.