It Security Essay - 2,718 words

IT Security Today, few managers can ignore the importance and impact of how information is handled by their organization. Information systems play a critical role in todays business organization and society. Since the emergence of the global economy, the success of firms today and in the future depends on their ability to operate globally. The economy depends on imports and exports. Globalization of the worlds industrial economies greatly enhances the value of information to the firm and offers new opportunities to businesses. In this situation, information system security becomes one of the major issues that corporate officials have to face.


Within the course of this report, we will analyze five articles and elaborate on the information system security in our society. Today, information systems provide the communication and analytic power that firms need to conduct trades and manage businesses on a global scale. Globalization and information technology also brings new threats to domestic business firms. This is brought on by the customers ability to shop in a worldwide marketplace, obtaining the price and quality information reliably, 24 hours a day. The worldwide market place brings competition to a higher level than ever before, forcing all businesses to play a part in this global economy. In order to become a profitable player in a worldwide market firms, need powerful information and communication systems. Many countries are experiencing the third economic revolution. These countries include the United States, Japan, Great Britain, Germany and other major industrial powers. This revolution, which is now in progress, is transforming itself into knowledge and information based service economy.


This revolution began at the turn of the century and by 1976 the number of white-collar workers employed in offices surpassed the number of farm workers, service workers, and blue-collar workers employed in manufacturing. Today, most people no longer work in farms or factories, but instead are found in sales, education, health care, banks, insurance firms, computer technology, and law firms. In addition, they provide business services like copying, computer software, or deliveries. These jobs primarily involve working with, distributing, or creating new knowledge and information. In fact, knowledge and information fields now account for 75 percent of the gross national product (GNP), and nearly 70 percent of the labor force (Anderson 112). In a knowledge and information based economy, information technology and systems take on great importance.


For instance, information systems technology constitutes for more than 70 percent of the invested capital in service industries like finance, insurance, and real estate. This means that managers decisions about information technology will be the most common investment decision. (Levy 77) Productivity of employees depends greatly on the quality of information systems serving them. Management decisions about information technology are critically important to the survival of a firm. Consider also that the growing power of information technology makes possible new services of great economic value. Consider that credit cards, overnight package delivery, and worldwide reservation systems are examples of services that are based on new information technologies. Information systems have many uses. They not only help you track inventory but also help you make decisions on where to open another store and assist in forecasting how much money it will cost to maintain it.


There are six major types of information systems. The first is the Executive Support Systems (ESS). This is a strategic level system that allows senior managers to tackle and address five-year trends, operating plans, budget forecasting, profit planning, and manpower planning. The second is Management Information Systems (MIS). This is a management system and is directed at middle managers in assisting them make decisions on sales management, inventory control, annual budgeting, and capital investment analysis. Another management level system is the Decision Support System (DSS) and is also directed at middle managers. This system is directed for the managers that are crippled by their, Paralysis of Analysis.


(Kahn 149) The fourth and fifth, are knowledge level systems called Knowledge Work Systems (KWS) and Office Automation Systems (OAS) directed at knowledge and data workers. The KWS is a system that assists highly educated professional and technical staff. This system is used as engineering, graphics, and managerial workstations. The OAS is used for word processing, image storage, and electronic calendars. This system is directed toward clerical workers. The last system is an operational level system called Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) directed towards operational personnel and supervisors. This system has many uses.


The TPS is used for order tracking, order processing, machine control, plant scheduling, material movement control, securities trading, cash management, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, compensation, Training and development, and employee recordkeeping. There are many examples of how information systems not only benefit the investor but also the customer. For example, UPS competes globally with information technology. UPS delivers over three billion packages a day to more than 185 countries. All this would not be possible without an accurate information system. UPS has invested 1 to 1.8 billion dollars on information technology alone from 1992 to 1996.


(Gollman 60) This technology has helped UPS boost customer service while keeping costs low and streamlining its overall operations. UPS does this by using a hand-held computer called a Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD). UPS drivers automatically capture customers signatures along with pickup, delivery, and timecard information on these computers. These computers are then placed into an adapter attached to each UPS truck. The adapters then transmit to the main UPS computer network through cellular access. From the main computer network any information can be accessed (Wilson).


Through TotalTrack, its automated package tracking system, UPS can monitor packages throughout the delivery process. Throughout the process, packages are scanned at each stop using bar codes. The information is then fed into a central computer. This allows the customers to search for any package using a package tracking software supplied by UPS. Presently anyone can find out the status of his or her package by accessing the UPS website. It is easy to see how information systems have helped UPS succeed (Kurose 89).


Before the use of widespread computer technologies, our personal information had no real value beyond its immediate transaction. When data and information was provided by a citizen or consumer it had no secondary reuse. However, due to advances in technology and data retrieval systems and transactions, information has been given commercial value, especially with regards to the issue of who owns and controls this information. The information age has been a period that has allowed rights to privacy to become seriously jeopardized by new information technologies. There are two distinct phases to the systematic erosion of information privacy. The first is the 'data base phase'.


(Hatch 230) The emergence of sophisticated data base technology in the early eighties made it possible to store and retrieve large amounts of information efficiently and economically. During this time, considerable amounts of personal data were transferred to computerized records, which have been stored on record. Another implicator in the invasion of privacy has been what is described as a 'network phase', in which many individuals and organizations are relying heavily on digital networks such as the Internet to help conduct their personal business. The Internet specifically has facilitated the integration of different databases and allowed data to become completely mobile, and easily retrieved by anyone. The use of such networks has expanded the capability of electronically pinpointing an individual or checking up of personal backgrounds by following electronic trails of information. There has become a realm where immediate on-line personal data is available to anyone with the simplest personal computer system.


The implications on individual privacy are great; we have become completely transparent to anyone who wants to take a little time to investigate one's background. What becomes a more important question is what types of information can be deemed as public and private, and as this information is stored who may legally claim access to it. It has been consistently maintained by members of our society that a right to privacy and anonymity is a neces ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: information systems, information technology, privacy, technological advances, computer

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