At the same time, the industry has experienced consolidation in the security service provider space, presenting a broader list of players for customers to consider.

FORBES: Microsoft Heats Up Security

While choosing a social media platform service provider, look for reliability performance, security, operational capabilities, strong hosting abilities, compatibility with existing IT infrastructure and value-based pricing.

FORBES: InfosysVoice: Choosing an enterprise-class, business-ready social media platform

Researchers at SANS and security firm Websense, in San Diego, notified the Chinese Internet service provider and domain registrar hosting the computers with malicious software.

FORBES: Magazine Article

What about requiring every third-party service provider to protect personal customer data through encryption, tokenization or another advanced security technology, through clauses written into and enforced as part of standard service level agreements?

FORBES: The Epsilon Hack Attack: Time For "SOX For Consumers"?

The PTCO allowed DIR and the pilot agencies to a gain a greater understanding of cloud infrastructure offerings for state government and document options and issues with provider selection, pricing, access security, data security, credentialing, provisioning time frames, service levels, service remedy options, terms of use, billing models, interoperability, mobility, scalability, capacity management, provider compliance, and monitoring and licensing.

FORBES: Cloud Management Broker: The Next Wave In Cloud Computing

Trustwave security experts test many mobile applications every year, usually fitting into one of two categories: free merchant or service-provider applications targeting consumer users (mobile banking applications, grocery store applications, etc.) and applications used by brick-and- mortar merchants for roving sales clerks.

FORBES: Is Your Mobile App Safe?