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: Web 2.0, or simply the Web as a platform, seems to have acquired a new meaning. Quiz its advocates and they will roll out reels of praise in its favour. It is user-friendly and promises easy interaction with customers. Money transactions based on Web-based applications are easier too, so is the uploading of pictures and videos on social networking websites. All this and more has been made possible due to Web 2.0. No wonder, to say that the internet after the evolution of Web 2.0 has become more convenient for the Web users would be an understatement, claim its advocates.

At the same time, it is bringing in new security concerns. The vulnerabilities of Web 2.0 and loopholes in IT security are hard to ignore. Imagine posting of malicious comments or obscene pictures on others accounts on the social networking websites like Orkut, Facebook. Or hacking of official websites of different companies through the internet or hacking of email accounts and stealing of data and information from social networking websites. Websites of banking and financial institutions too are vulnerable due to loopholes in the IT security surrounding Web 2.0.

On the flipside though, the Web 2.0 security business of the companies providing security solutions are booming across the globe. “We believe the Web 2.0 capabilities are being used in almost every organisation around the world.

Therefore, there is very good potential market in providing solutions addressing security challenges caused by Web 2.0,” says Geoff Haggart, senior vice-president (EMEA and Asia Pacific), Websense. He adds: “Because of the dynamic and fast changing nature of Web 2.0 sites and services, any tool addressing the security challenges needs to be capable of identifying and resolving threats in real-time.”

Analysts inform that the risk of getting information leaked and attacks on the official websites is so high that most of the businesses of banking and financial institutions and online entertainment and gaming companies are run on Web 2.0 only.

Shekhar Kirani, vice-president, VeriSign India says, “With much use of Web 2.0, the security needs have also increased. As such, there are three aspects of Web 2.0 security—protecting consumer’s identity, his information and consumer’s confidence.” According to him, most internet applications, including intranet applications are used because of Web 2.0. These include applications in sales, marketing, supply, contracts and listing of customers. In addition, banking applications or applications in accounts infrastructure and money transactions have been made possible because of Web 2.0.

At the same time, there are numerous challenges faced by the companies due to the emergence of new technology everyday to maintain security on the Web. In order to prevent the content from leaking, the prospects of Web 2.0 security are extremely high.

“The growth of the internet is pretty high because of Web 2.0. In India, there are 50 to 60 million internet subscribers and they are all using email, chat and banking because of Web 2.0 only. It is more in creating business opportunities. So, the market potential in Web 2.0 security is high,” stresses Kirani.

The growth rate of Web 2.0 security is high. To prevent data leak around the world, the estimated IT security in Asia alone in Web 2.0 is about $4billion, informs Kaustubh Dhavse, deputy director, ICT practice, Frost & Sullivan.

He adds: “Web content filtering and email filtering are two areas of the Web security that are poised to grow very high. In India, the Web content filtering market is growing at a CAGR 30%.”