A state of insecurity

Eleanor Dallaway

The idea that I would go to Israel was hatched at the Infosecurity Europe show back in April. The guys from Yoggie convinced me that not only would I get the opportunity to have a taste of Silicon Valley with a much shorter plane ride, but I would also get to sample the beautiful beaches, fabulous climate, and superb hospitality. I was instantly hooked.

The thing about Israel is that it’s not what you expect. Whilst you’d imagine that you’d feel fearful in a country abundant with political conflict and terrorism, I would argue that, for the most part, Israel is no more scary than some parts of London. While in some respect the repetitive searching of bags on entrance to restaurants, hotels and bars is a constant reminder of the potential dangers, it’s also a reassurance – something is being done.

It’s a question of ‘one step behind’ security, and it makes you wander, what came first in Israel – the security or the terror? Israel’s land conflicts stretch back to the First World War, and the Israelis have been at war or ‘on the defensive’ ever since. Israel’s security market is advancing at a remarkable pace and is tackling threats head-on.

The attitude of the Israeli people is competitive and determined, and this is apparent in their information security products, and in their attentive physical security. Although it’s obviously not flawless, as suicide bombings and other Palestinian attacks continue to take lives, Israel does try to be one step ahead. Not because it wants to be, because it needs to be.

And this is another contradiction. The majority of Israeli people are calm to the point of tranquillity, and kind and welcoming beyond expectation. Not the reception you’d expect from a nation that the news channels present as hostile and aggressive.

For people who make their livelihood from the security industry, the IT security professionals who I met with in Israel were not guarded, in fact they were more than happy to talk about their work and their industry. There is a sense of desperation in Israel – the people want to change the ‘CNN westernised opinions’ of their country and its citizens. Perhaps this is why they are currently pushing their tourism industry so hard, convinced of being able to change people’s opinions once they arrive. Israel is a beautiful country, and Tel Aviv is as alive and prosperous as most European cities.

And this also relates to business. Several of the people I spoke with admitted that they often come up against opposition when it comes to foreign markets buying Israeli security products, although nobody wanted to accept that Israel’s political situation has anything to do with it.

Perhaps this is the case, perhaps it is just as simple as people wanting to buy from within their own countries. But that doesn’t stop most of the world buying Microsoft from America, or smartcards from France. I just can’t buy into the belief that being Israeli-based doesn’t matter – I think that the reason that Israeli security companies struggle to market their security products in foreign countries is partly due to the reluctance to buy from a country that has so many problems on their home turf. Politics matter.

For this very same reason, and in the very same light, I also believe that people who turn away from Israeli security products for political or religious reasons are missing one vital point. In spite of their political position, indeed because of it, Israeli security products are often superior. And sure, good education, and government investment contribute to this, but above all else, they do security so well because they have to. Israel’s infrastructure could not survive without diligence and constant attention.

And whilst I met a lot of wonderfully proud people in Israel; proud of their country, proud of their industry and proud of their people, in many cases, I also sensed regret and sadness.

Amongst a country of contradictions, one thing is clear. The Israeli people are proud of their security systems, but desperate not to need them.

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An industry born of necessity (October 2007)
Israel is home to a cluster of IT security vendors, as its military-trained citizens turn national security concerns into a booming export business. Eleanor Dallaway visited the country to find out more

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