A new report claims that computer attacks could be thwarted if enterprises took the time to not only authenticate the user logging on, but to also authenticate the machine that connects to the network. Phoenix Technologies, a BIOS maker, says that 84 percent of the attacks reported in its survey could have been prevented if a device authentication solution was in place. Phoenix, by the way, just happens to make a tool that builds a unique identity for authorized PCs. Yet it claims that since its study was conducted by an outside research firm, the statistics and overall conclusion are on target--and that enterprises should consider such device protection tools.

For more on taking the next step in network protection:
- read this news item at TechWeb