As a growing number of companies use the internet or other public networks for financial transactions or to store sensitive information, they have needed to boost security. A few years ago only a handful of internet connections came with a firewall, or security that blocks hackers from gaining access to a company's computer system through the intemet link, said ATOM's Wichniewicz. That threat prevented many companies from hooking up their systems to the internet. Two basic solutions exist for companies seeking to enhance their internet security. A firm can construct a firewall to limit access to its computer system or use encryption to codify sensitive information.
Providers usually solve the problem by using a combination of the two approaches.
ATOM has recently offered electronic signatures, which allow individuals to sign their name to e-mail to confirm that they wrote the message. Another guard is changing passwords - the NASK can give a company a special card that changes passwords every minute. But more than just tacking on a range of new value-added services, major internet providers are becoming more specialized, according to Dell Computers Wasowska. Providers are beginning to focus on niches such as providing more competitive satellite links, setting up complex web sites, or offering cheap e-mail accounts.