What Makes Information Security Important?

The importance of the security in the physical world can never be exaggerated. Without it, your residence becomes open to burglars and unwanted visitors. In this modern, technological world, however, there’s a new form of theft or break-in that’s virtual in nature: illegal data access. We’ve heard of thousands of stories of computers and networks being hacked, which led to huge amounts of cash getting lost or confidential data dropping in the wrong hands. The paraphernalia of such illicit acts can cause businesses to terminate operation, relationships to break down, and even nations to go to war.

The good news is that sensitive and exclusive data can now be safeguarded from theft and misuse via IT security. Here are some of the most prominent reasons for providing Information Security for businesses.

Protection from internal dangers

Definitely, getting your information and data secured is not only about protecting it from external access. We should contemplate the possibility of our very own people having access to certain information they’re not supposed to view or get their hands on. You’ve possibly heard of a former CIA technical assistant who leaked documents from one of the world’s most famous spy organizations. When setting up your information systems, extra security has to be installed for information that’s thought to be only for the eyes of handpicked persons.

Security from external risks

Those who pretense a threat to a network’s security can be classified into two: amateurs and professionals. The previous doesn’t pose much of a threat as they may not be prepared with the knowledge on how to get through erudite protection safeguards. The professional type, however, recognizes all the tricks and techniques in hacking even the most profoundly secured virtual systems in the world.

Peace of mind

As your business’s critical processes, data and intellectual property migrate to the internet, it also enhances its exposure to theft and hacking activities. This involves the setting up of additional and stronger security. Moreover, it’s also your business’s accountability to your customers or clients that your online system be secure from unauthorized access, particularly if they have confidential info in your databases. Sleeping at night becomes easier when you know that you have a firm security system installed to protect not only sensitive data but your very investments.

Securing your information system/s is not only about protecting info and data from theft and misuse; it’s also about performing risk management and running your operations more responsibly.

Risks to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational information assets are constant, yet progress on a daily basis. Individuals need to be informed and prepared for the risks directed towards them, their computers, and eventually their way of life. These threats take on many forms, but they all fit indefinite established and identifiable categories. An individual’s aptitude to differentiate between benign incidents and an authentic threat or risk rests on the breadth and depth of security awareness training they have acknowledged.

Proposing that an Information Security Awareness Program be developed for the workforce of your organization to inform them of the risks they face while utilizing organizational information assets, and by extension, their individual information is an astute move for IT executives to make. The awareness program can be developed in conjunction with the execution of an overall IT Governance methodology such as COBIT or as an impartial program depending on the IT maturity level of your firm.

Firewalls, intrusion detection, and intrusion prevention systems, although a prerequisite for today’s network, cannot entirely defend an organization from prevailing security threats. Companies need to ensure that their employees, vendors, partners, and subcontractors will not dispense the organization susceptible to various risks such as operational disruptions, loss of valued informational assets, public embarrassment, or legal liability due to a privation of security awareness.

Information Security has become a crucial concern among information technology professionals and that concern when shared by management, will benefit firms as a whole. Top-down management support is critical for the survival of the program and its goal of creating a culture of security awareness within the organization. The program would also be a valuable component of showing that executive management is enacting due diligence in securing organizational information assets.

Pic courtesy: www.pixabay.com