essay on information technology security

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103 Information Technology Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Information technology is a rapidly evolving field that encompasses a wide range of topics and issues. From cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, there are countless areas in which to explore and write about. If you're looking for inspiration for your next IT essay, look no further. Here are 103 information technology essay topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Society
• The Future of Cybersecurity
• Big Data and Its Role in Business Decision-Making
• The Rise of Cloud Computing
• The Ethical Implications of Facial Recognition Technology
• Virtual Reality and Its Applications in Healthcare
• The Role of Blockchain in Supply Chain Management
• The Internet of Things and Smart Cities
• Augmented Reality in Education
• The Evolution of E-Commerce
• The Role of Chatbots in Customer Service
• The Rise of Remote Work and Its Implications
• The Importance of Data Privacy in the Digital Age
• The Impact of Social Media on Society
• The Role of Biometric Technology in Security
• The Future of 5G Technology
• The Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence
• The Role of Machine Learning in Healthcare
• The Impact of Automation on the Job Market
• The Rise of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology
• The Role of IT in Disaster Recovery Planning
• The Evolution of Wearable Technology
• The Importance of User Experience Design in Website Development
• The Role of IT in Environmental Sustainability
• The Impact of Technology on Mental Health
• The Rise of Quantum Computing
• The Ethics of Data Collection and Analysis
• The Role of IT in Healthcare Delivery
• The Impact of Social Media on Politics
• The Future of Driverless Cars
• The Rise of Remote Learning Platforms
• The Role of IT in Climate Change Mitigation
• The Impact of Technology on Human Relationships
• The Future of Digital Currency
• The Role of IT in Disaster Response
• The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Warfare
• The Impact of Technology on Work-Life Balance
• The Rise of Personalized Medicine
• The Role of IT in Agriculture
• The Future of Virtual Assistants
• The Impact of Technology on Education
• The Role of IT in Telemedicine
• The Ethics of Data Breaches and Hacks
• The Impact of Technology on Creativity
• The Future of 3D Printing
• The Role of IT in Financial Services
• The Rise of Smart Home Technology
• The Impact of Technology on Journalism
• The Role of IT in Disaster Preparedness
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Marketing
• The Impact of Technology on Social Isolation
• The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles
• The Role of IT in Humanitarian Aid
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering
• The Impact of Technology on Urban Planning
• The Future of Cyber Warfare
• The Role of IT in Space Exploration
• The Rise of Bioinformatics
• The Impact of Technology on Cultural Preservation
• The Role of IT in Public Health
• The Future of Robotics
• The Ethics of Surveillance Technology
• The Impact of Technology on the Arts
• The Role of IT in Disaster Relief
• The Rise of Biometric Identification
• The Impact of Technology on Democracy
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Law Enforcement
• The Role of IT in Sustainable Development
• The Ethics of Autonomous Weapons
• The Impact of Technology on Human Rights
• The Rise of Smart Cities
• The Role of IT in Wildlife Conservation
• The Future of Virtual Reality in Entertainment
• The Impact of Technology on Cultural Diversity
• The Role of IT in Emergency Management
• The Rise of Smart Manufacturing
• The Impact of Technology on Globalization
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• The Role of IT in Disaster Recovery
• The Ethics of Genetic Privacy
• The Impact of Technology on Gender Equality
• The Rise of Smart Grid Technology
• The Role of IT in Sustainable Agriculture
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Transportation
• The Impact of Technology on Indigenous Communities
• The Role of IT in Wildlife Monitoring
• The Ethics of Genetic Testing
• The Impact of Technology on Access to Education
• The Rise of Smart Energy Systems
• The Role of IT in Disaster Response Planning
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Finance
• The Impact of Technology on Social Justice
• The Role of IT in Conservation Biology
• The Rise of Smart Transportation Systems
• The Impact of Technology on Disability Rights
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Retail
• The Role of IT in Disaster Risk Reduction
• The Ethics of Genetic Modification
• The Impact of Technology on LGBTQ Rights
• The Rise of Smart Agriculture
• The Role of IT in Conservation Planning
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Customer Service
• The Impact of Technology on Refugee Rights

These are just a few of the many information technology essay topics you could explore. Whether you're interested in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, or any other aspect of IT, there are endless possibilities for research and writing. So pick a topic that interests you, do some research, and start writing your next IT essay today.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Information Technology — What is Information Security

What is Information Security

• Categories: Information Technology Security

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Published: Dec 18, 2018

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Essay on Information Technology in 400 Words

• Updated on  
• Dec 2, 2023

Essay on Information Technology: Information Technology is the study of computer systems and telecommunications for storing, retrieving, and transmitting information using the Internet. Today, we rely on information technology to collect and transfer data from and on the internet. Say goodbye to the conventional lifestyle and hello to the realm of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

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Also Read: Essay on Internet

Scientific discoveries have given birth to Information Technology (IT), which has revolutionized our way of living. Sudden developments in technology have given a boost to IT growth, which has changed the entire world. Students are taught online using smartboards, virtual meetings are conducted between countries to enhance diplomatic ties, online surveys are done to spread social awareness, e-commerce platforms are used for online shopping, etc.

Information Technology has made sharing and collecting information at our fingertips easier. We can learn new things with just a click. IT tools have enhanced global communication, through which we can foster economic cooperation and innovation. Almost every business in the world relies on Information Technology for growth and development. The addiction to information technology is thriving throughout the world.

Also Read: Essay on 5G Technology

• Everyday activities like texting, calling, and video chatting have made communication more efficient.
• E-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart have become a source of online shopping.
• E-learning platforms have made education more accessible.
• The global economy has significantly improved.
• The healthcare sector has revolutionized with the introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHR) and telemedicine.
• Local businesses have expanded into global businesses. 
• Access to any information on the internet in real-time.

Also Read: Essay on Mobile Phone

Disadvantages

Apart from the above-mentioned advantages of Information Technology, there are some disadvantages also.

• Cybersecurity and data breaches are one of the most important issues.
• There is a digital divide in people having access to information technology.
• Our over-relying attitude towards the IT sector makes us vulnerable to technical glitches, system failures and cyber-attacks.
• Excessive use of electronic devices and exposure to screens contribute to health issues.
• Short lifecycles of electronic devices due to rapid changes in technological developments.
• Challenges like copyright infringement and intellectual property will rise because of ease in digital reproduction and distribution.
• Our traditional ways of entertainment have been transformed by online streaming platforms, where we can watch movies and play games online.

The modern world heavily relies on information technology. Indeed, it has fundamentally reshaped our way of living and working, but, we also need to strike a balance between its use and overuse. We must pay attention to the challenges it brings for a sustainable and equitable society.

Also Read: Essay on Technology

Paragraph on Information Technology

Also Read: Essay on Wonder of Science

Ans: Information technology is an indispensable part of our lives and has revolutionized the way we connect, work, and live. The IT sector involves the use of computers and electronic gadgets to store, transmit, and retrieve data. In recent year, there has been some rapid changes in the IT sector, which has transformed the world into a global village, where information can be exchanged in real-time across vast distances.

Ans: The IT sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. The IT sector includes IT services, e-commerce, the Internet, Software, and Hardware products. IT sector helps boost productivity and efficiency. Computer applications and digital systems have allowed people to perform multiple tasks at a faster rate. IT sector creates new opportunities for everyone; businesses, professionals, and consumers.

Ans: There are four basic concepts of the IT sector: Information security, business software development, computer technical support, and database and network management.

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Essay on Cyber Security

Students are often asked to write an essay on Cyber Security in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Cyber Security

Understanding cyber security.

Cyber security is about protecting computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from digital attacks. It’s a critical area as our daily life, economic vitality, and national security rely on a stable, safe, and resilient cyberspace.

The Importance of Cyber Security

Cyber security is important because it helps protect sensitive information, like our personal data and banking details, from being stolen by hackers. It also safeguards against harmful viruses that can damage our devices.

Types of Cyber Threats

Common threats include malware, phishing, and ransomware. Malware is harmful software, phishing tricks people into revealing sensitive information, and ransomware locks users out until they pay a ransom.

Cyber Security Practices

Good practices include using strong passwords, regularly updating software, and not clicking on suspicious links. These can help protect us from cyber threats.

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• Paragraph on Cyber Security
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250 Words Essay on Cyber Security

Introduction to cyber security.

Cybersecurity, a term that has gained paramount importance in the digital age, refers to the practice of protecting internet-connected systems, including hardware, software, and data, from digital attacks. Its significance is amplified by the increasing reliance on technology, which, while offering numerous benefits, also opens up new avenues for potential threats.

The digital landscape is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it facilitates communication, commerce, and innovation. On the other, it provides a fertile ground for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity thus becomes crucial in safeguarding sensitive information, preventing unauthorized access, and maintaining system integrity.

Challenges in Cyber Security

However, the complexity and sophistication of cyber threats are growing at an alarming pace. Cybercriminals are using advanced techniques, such as AI and machine learning, to bypass traditional security measures. This necessitates the development of more robust, adaptive cybersecurity strategies.

The Future of Cyber Security

The future of cybersecurity lies in proactive defense mechanisms. By leveraging technologies like AI, predictive analytics, and blockchain, we can anticipate and neutralize threats before they cause harm. Furthermore, fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness is equally important to empower individuals and organizations against cyber threats.

In conclusion, cybersecurity is a vital aspect of our digital existence. Its importance, challenges, and future prospects underline the need for continuous research, development, and education in this field. As the digital landscape evolves, so too must our approach to cybersecurity.

500 Words Essay on Cyber Security

Cyber security, also known as information technology security, focuses on protecting computers, networks, programs, and data from unintended or unauthorized access, damage, or destruction. In the digital era, the importance of cyber security is growing exponentially due to the increasing reliance on computer systems, the internet, and wireless network standards such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and due to the growth of smart devices like smartphones and televisions.

The significance of robust cyber security measures cannot be understated. Cyber attacks can lead to serious consequences like identity theft, extortion attempts, deletion of important data, and even the disruption of normal business operations. In more extreme cases, they can lead to the compromise of national security. Hence, cyber security is not just a concern for businesses or governments, but it is a potential threat to all internet users.

Cyber threats can be broadly divided into three categories: Cybercrime includes single actors or groups targeting systems for financial gain or to cause disruption; Cyber-attack often involves politically motivated information gathering; and Cyberterrorism is intended to undermine electronic systems to cause panic or fear. Examples of these threats are malware, phishing, ransomware, and social engineering.

Cyber Security Measures

In response to these threats, several cyber security measures are being employed. These include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software, and encryption. Furthermore, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of information assurance, where data integrity, confidentiality, and availability are assured.

As technology evolves, so does the complexity and sophistication of cyber threats. Hence, the future of cyber security lies in constant evolution and adaptation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming integral in combating cyber threats. These technologies can learn and adapt to new threats, making them more efficient than traditional security measures.

In conclusion, cyber security is a crucial aspect of our digital lives, and its importance will only increase with time. To ensure a secure digital environment, individuals, organizations, and governments must understand the potential threats and employ robust security measures to counter them. The future of cyber security is promising, with the advent of AI and ML, but the road ahead is challenging, requiring constant vigilance and adaptation to new threats.

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Information Security essay

The emergence and widespread use of the new technology of computers and internet has resulted in both positive and negative effects for the individual consumer of this new technology. In this context, it is important to ask the following questions: Whether the individual privacy has been violated by the use of the computers and internet? What are the ethical issues involved in this phenomena? What measures are taken by the government to curtail the intention of the individuals and agencies to violate other’s privacy?

What is the role of the international organisations in protecting the information privacy? This shows that the present task includes various complex aspects involving the problems related to information security. This essay begins with providing introduction to the topic, and then it will deal with the issues such as privacy issues, legal aspects of information, relationship between information and human rights, the emergence of data protection policies including the directives issued by the EU and the USA.

The number of publications and debates, as showed by the exhaustive bibliography presented at the end of this essay, indicate the importance that this topic has received in the recent years. In this sense, it is important to analyse the various aspects related to information security mentioned above. This essay will emphasise – both legally and morally speaking – the fact that it is important to protect the information security pertaining to the individuals and the nations.

The main purpose of this essay is to present the facts and provide their analysis in order to stress the need for action against the violation of information privacy. Privacy issues The increasing role of the media, including television, newspapers, Internet, has attracted the attention of the scholars to the need for the in depth study of the privacy issues as the individuals have started complaining that their privacy has been violated due to the study, analysis and publications of their personal behaviour in the society.

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Although recently privacy issues have gained greater complexity, the scholars, as early as 19th century, discussed the issues pertaining to the right of the privacy of the individual. Initially, the government authorities protected the property rights of the individuals as the government believed that it is important protect the property rights of the individuals. However, later the principles of property rights were also applied in the case of the privacy as it was perceived that every individual possessed the right to think, act, and speak.

However, during 19th century there were several cases which pertained to the conflict between the individuals and the journalists who wrote the gossip-like stories pertaining to the famous personalities. These writings, when challenged in the court of law, were punished because there was intrusion of the individual’s privacy. This shows that even during the 19th century the privacy issues were discussed in great length, and the government attempted to protect the privacy of the individuals.

The legislations of the governments prohibited the publications which affected the individual’s privacy. However, in the modern age, the privacy issues have become further complicated, in spite of the existence of appropriate legislations to protect the privacy of the individuals, due to the emergence of the new technologies such as internet and electronic revolution.

Privacy, which includes the various categories such as privacy of person, privacy of personal behaviour, privacy of personal communications, and privacy of personal data, has been considered as something which should be guarded against attempts to violate the right to privacy. Among these, the most important are the personal communication privacy and the data privacy or information privacy because the individuals believe their interactions with other individuals and institutions should not be monitored by the government or non government agencies.

The violation of the privacy of the individuals will have different kinds of effects, including psychological, social, economic, and political, on the overall personality of the individual as any kind of surveillance, including data surveillance, mass surveillance, physical surveillance, and electronic surveillance, limits the activities of the people since they cannot act and think freely. This is against the democratic principles that have been incorporated in the constitution of the democratic countries of the world.

Recently, information privacy and data privacy have emerged as the significant terms which are related to each other. Generally, privacy is violated due to the conflict between the personal rights and interest of the individuals and the personal rights of the community and government. Hence, there is a need to establish balance between the two, and this balance can be achieved by defining and following the general principles pertaining to the relationship between the personal interest and the community interest.

Those who violate the principles protecting the individual privacy should be awarded with severe punishments so that they would not, in the future, repeat the crime of disturbing the information and data privacy of other individuals. The privacy of the individual is affected through the actions such as: publishing private information, eavesdrop communication, and collecting the analysing the personal data.

During the pre computer age an attempt was made to protect the privacy of the individuals through the legislations and actions such as: the fourth amendment 1791 of the American constitution, universal declaration of human rights 1948, international covenant on civil and political rights. In the age of computers the European countries have tried to protect the privacy through the actions and proposals such as: convention on data protection, 1981 and European Union (EU) data directive, 1995. This shows that many European countries and the developed countries such as the USA have tried to protect the privacy of the individuals.

The large number of conferences, conventions and legislations prove that the scholars and the authorities have realized the need to protect the individual privacy. In spite of the above attempts to protect the privacy of the individuals in the different countries, the scholars have noticed the prevalence of a few practical problems which hinder the sincere attempts to safeguard the interest of the consumers who feed their personal data to the institutions as the consumers are under the impression that these data would remain confidential which, however, is not the case always.

One can also notice the differences in the methods employed by the European countries and the USA which has resulted in the confusion in the mind of the individuals pertaining to their right to privacy. Hence, it is important to coordinate the methods of handling the problems of privacy in these different countries. The individuals, although are informed pertaining to the ‘privacy policies’ of the companies, in reality, the consumers are not able to comprehend the complex privacy policies.

This would imply that there is a need for providing simplified version of the attitude of the companies towards the data so that the individuals could place their trust on the companies while providing their personal information. It is found that the information provided by the consumers are used by the data collection companies for their own financial benefit which may directly or indirectly affect the individual privacy. In many cases, the consumers are not even aware of the fact that their data are being misused by the companies.

This leads to the breach of trust on the part of the data collectors. The consumer surveys have repeatedly proved that the consumers are not satisfied with the attitude of the companies towards their privacy. This has created fear among the consumers while using the internet particularly for financial transactions. Due to the global nature of the internet and opportunity to maintain anonymity of people, there has been increase in the internet based crimes which has affected the privacy of the individuals.

This shows that the legislations, in the EU and USA have not succeeded in preventing the privacy violation of the consumers. However, the companies have argued that, in the UK scenario, they have not used individual information given the customers as it is illegal to sell the information of the individual without prior permission. The ‘loyalty cards’, voluntarily signed by the individual customers, comprises valuable information provided by the customers which however are not passed to others as this information is used to understand the buying habits of the consumers in a particular locality.

The companies collect the information, voluntarily given by the customers, to increase their sales, and in the process they take care not to disclose the personal information provided by the customers. The customers, in fact, are given the option not to disclose their personal information to the third party so that their data privacy could be protected. However, although this argument looks perfect in theory, in practice one cannot always accept that the companies do not disclose the personal information pertaining to their customers.

This is because there is no tested mechanism to comprehend the privacy policies of the companies as the employees of the companies might sell the information of the customers. Hence, the customers tend to lose their privacy when they provide information to the companies as the individuals do not possess the control over the data furnished by them. The above discussion has brought to light the probable negative implications of the modern technology. This has compelled the scholars to ask the question: Since new technology has failed to protect the privacy of the individual, should we not discard such technology?

However, it is not advisable to discard the technology in order to protect the individual privacy. It has been rightly argued by one scholar that: “…civil liberties can best be protected by employing value sensitive technology development strategies in conjunction with policy implementations, not by opposing technological developments or seeking to control the use of particular technologies or techniques after the fact through law alone” It is, in fact, important to devise policy measures to overcome the problems pertaining to individual privacy.

The scholars, by discussing various aspects of violation of the individual privacy, have comprehended the fact that it is necessary to protect the privacy of the individuals. Although much legislation has been implemented one cannot expect that legislations will act as the magic force in preventing the crimes against privacy of the individuals. Hence, the governments, of both the USA and the EU, need to introduce flexible policies in order to provide clarity element to their policies.

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Generative AI

Generative AI is a subset of artificial intelligence that leverages machine learning techniques to generate human-like content. From writing essays to creating art, generative AI has a wide range of applications. Generative AI has the potential to bring significant benefits to teaching, learning, and research. These tools also come with inherent risks.

Generative AI offers exciting possibilities for universities, but it’s important to use these tools responsibly. By following these guidelines, universities can harness the power of generative AI while ensuring ethical use. The goal is not to replace human creativity and effort but to enhance it.

For details and further information, please read: Guidance on the Use of Generative AI at the Universities of Wisconsin pdf

Benefits of Generative AI

Generative AI can be a powerful tool in the university setting. An example of Generative AI is ChatGPT – a chatbot developed by a private company called OpenAI. Users can enter question prompts and within seconds ChatGPT will produce text-based responses in the form of poems, essays, articles, letters, and more. It can also create structured responses like tables, bullet lists, and quizzes. ChatGPT can provide translation and copy language style and structure. It can also be used to develop and debug software code. New and expanded uses continue to be developed and launched. A similar tool called DALL-E uses AI to create art pieces.

Guidelines for Use

While generative AI can be beneficial, it’s important to use it responsibly. Here are the current UWSA guidelines for use. Additional guidance may be forthcoming as circumstances evolve.

Allowable Use

• Academic integrity: It is up to each instructor to decide if the use of AI is allowed in any course. If the use of AI is allowed in coursework, then you must provide clear expectations on how students should cite use of generative AI in their work. If adding a prohibition on AI tools to assignment instructions, it is best to suggest that the ‘use of generative AI tools’ is prohibited, as opposed to the use of one particular tool, such as ChatGPT. There are many generative AI tools available today.
• Intellectual property: Creating an account to use tools like ChatGPT requires the sharing of personal information. Depending on context, the use of ChatGPT may also mean sharing student intellectual property or student education records with ChatGPT under their terms and conditions of use. Individual students may have legitimate concerns and therefore may be unwilling to create an account. Discuss these concerns and consider alternatives. If you will require the use of ChatGPT make this explicit in the syllabus.
• Privacy: Academic records, such as exams and course assignments, are considered student records and are protected by FERPA. For example, ChatGPT should not be used to draft initial feedback on a student’s submitted essay that includes the student’s identifying information.
• Data classified as low risk, under UW Administrative policy SYS 1031, Information Security: Data Classification and Protection , can be freely used with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
• In all cases, use should be consistent with UW Board of Regents Policy, RPD 25-3: Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources .

Prohibited Use

At present, any use of public instances of generative AI tools should be with the assumption that no personal, confidential, proprietary, or otherwise sensitive information may be used with it. In general, student records subject to FERPA and any other information classified as Medium or High Risk (per SYS 1031) should not be used in public instances of generative AI tools.

Similarly, public instances of generative AI tools should not be used to generate output that would be considered confidential. Examples include but are not limited to proprietary or unpublished research; legal analysis or advice: recruitment, personnel, or disciplinary decision-making; completion of academic work in a manner not allowed by the instructor; creation of non-public instructional materials; and grading.

Other Considerations

Accuracy: Generative AI tools are not infallible, and their accuracy is subject to a variety of factors, including:

• Prone to filling in replies with incorrect data if there is not enough information available on a subject.
• Lack of the ability to understand the context of a particular situation, which can result in inaccurate outputs.
• Large data sets scraped from the internet are full of biased data that inform the models.

Implicit Biases: Algorithms used by these technologies can, and do, replicate, and produce biased, racist, sexist, etc. outputs, along with incorrect and/or misleading information.

Confidentiality: All content entered into generative AI tools may become part of the tool’s dataset and inadvertently resurface in response to other prompts.

Personal Liability: Generative tools, such as ChatGPT, use a click-through agreement. Click-through agreements, including OpenAI and ChatGPT terms of use, are contracts. Individuals who accept click-through agreements without delegated signature authority may face personal consequences, including responsibility for compliance with terms and conditions.

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2023 Exchange breach —

Microsoft blamed for “a cascade of security failures” in exchange breach report, summer 2023 intrusion pinned to corporate culture, "avoidable errors.".

Kevin Purdy - Apr 3, 2024 6:51 pm UTC

A federal Cyber Safety Review Board has issued its report on what led to last summer's capture of hundreds of thousands of emails by Chinese hackers from cloud customers, including federal agencies. It cites "a cascade of security failures at Microsoft" and finds that "Microsoft's security culture was inadequate" and needs to adjust to a "new normal" of cloud provider targeting.

The report , mandated by President Biden in the wake of the far-reaching intrusion, details the steps that Microsoft took before, during, and after the breach and in each case finds critical failure. The breach was "preventable," even though it cites Microsoft as not knowing precisely how Storm-0558, a "hacking group assessed to be affiliated with the People's Republic of China," got in.

"Throughout this review, the board identified a series of Microsoft operational and strategic decisions that collectively points to a corporate culture that deprioritized both enterprise security investments and rigorous risk management," the report reads.

The report notes that Microsoft "fully cooperated with the Board's review." A Microsoft spokesperson issued a statement regarding the report. " We appreciate the work of the CSRB to investigate the impact of well-resourced nation state threat actors who operate continuously and without meaningful deterrence," the statement reads. "As we announced in our Secure Future Initiative , recent events have demonstrated a need to adopt a new culture of engineering security in our own networks ." Along with hardening its systems and implementing more sensors and logs to "detect and repel the cyber-armies of our adversaries," Microsoft said it would "review the final report for additional recommendations."

“Inaccurate public statements” and unsolved mysteries

The Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), formed two years ago, is composed of government and industry officials, from entities including the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense, the NSA, FBI, and others. Microsoft provides cloud-based services, including Exchange and Azure, to numerous government agencies, including consulates.

Further Reading

Congress and government agencies called on Microsoft to offer far more disclosure , and others, including Tenable's CEO, offered even harsher assessments . In September, the company met them partway. It was an engineer's account that was hacked , Microsoft claimed, giving attackers access to a supposedly locked-down workstation, the consumer signing key, and, crucially, access to crash dumps moved into a debugging environment. A "race condition" prevented a mechanism that strips out signing keys and other sensitive data from crash dumps from functioning. Furthermore, "human errors" allowed for an expired signing key to be used in forging tokens for modern enterprise offerings.

Those kinds of unrevealing, withholding public statements were cited by the CSRB in its finding of Microsoft's failures. The report cites "Microsoft’s decision not to correct, in a timely manner, its inaccurate public statements about this incident, including a corporate statement that Microsoft believed it had determined the likely root cause of the intrusion when in fact, it still has not." It also notes that Microsoft did not update its September 2023 blog post about the invasion cause until March 2024, "as the Board was concluding its review and only after the Board’s repeated questioning about Microsoft’s plans to issue a correction." (The updated blog post notes that Microsoft has "not found a crash dump containing the impacted key material.")

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Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB) May 2024 Meeting

The information security and privacy advisory board (ispab) is authorized by 15 u.s.c. 278g-4, as amended, and advises the national institute of standards and technology (nist), the secretary of homeland security (dhs), and the director of the office of management and budget (omb) on information security and privacy issues pertaining to federal government information systems, including through review of proposed standards and guidelines developed by nist..

The Federal Register Notice announcing this meeting will be posted closer to the event date.

Recording Note: This meeting will be recorded and may be edited and made publicly available by NIST within 10 business days of the event. 

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Registration required to receive the WebEx link to join the virtual meeting.

To register, click on the green "Website" button under EVENT DETAILS on the right side of the screen.

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Starts: May 21, 2024 - 02:30 PM EDT Ends: May 21, 2024 - 03:30 PM EDT

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Information Technology Security Assessment Methodologies Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction, quantitative assessment, qualitative assessment, the best methodology.

Risk assessment is an essential component of information security management. It entails evaluating individual information technology (IT) threats and assigning them precedence depending on their potential impacts. Stallings and Brown (2018) posit that security assessment enables an organization to identify and evaluate potential vulnerabilities to a specific system. IT security assessment is significant because it helps an institute to establish a robust and efficient safety program. Institutions use numerous approaches to IT security risk assessment. The most common methods are qualitative and quantitative. This paper will discuss the two main methodologies of IT security assessment. It will also settle for the most appropriate approach to IT risk evaluation.

Quantitative assessment is the most basic method of IT security risk evaluation. As the name suggests, this method of assessment uses definite figures, numbers, and percentages to quantify risk. It utilizes statistical methods to compute the likelihood of a specific threat occurring and its latent repercussions. According to Cherdantseva et al. (2016), a quantitative method of risk assessment enables an IT department to understand the financial impacts of probable risk. Additionally, it can also be used to ascertain the amount of data that could be compromised or lost in case the risk arises. Cherdantseva et al. (2016) aver, “Even though this approach does take into consideration the impact that a risk would have on business operations, it does so through a rigid number-based lens” (p. 11). Organizations use a quantitative method to determine the IT security risks that are acceptable or unacceptable depending on their potential outcomes.

The initial stage in quantitative risk assessment entails identifying the essential assets of an organization. As per Cherdantseva et al. (2016), this methodology covers factors like information processing systems, IT equipment, and facilities. It also considers other less-apparent assets like data contained in a system, mobile devices, and the organizational workforce. Once all the essential assets are identified, their absolute value in dollars is computed. It may be hard for security analysts to obtain a precise value of volatile or indefinite assets. Nevertheless, Cherdantseva et al. (2016) assert that an analyst can rely on estimate values. An analyst then marches individual risks with the assets that they are likely to affect. They evaluate the extent of damage that risk can cause to a particular asset. Feng, Wang, and Li (2014) posit that the possible damage is computed in percentage. It is then “multiplied by the value of the asset to obtain a dollar amount of loss for that specific risk” (Feng et al., 2014, p. 61). It is imperative to appreciate that quantitative assessment requires a significant amount of data to produce reliable results.

One may wonder what the analysts come up with upon conducting a quantitative risk assessment. After evaluating individual risk scenarios, security analysts compile a report that details the assets that are vulnerable to risks, their level of exposure, and the possible financial impacts of the threats that occur (Fenz, Heurix, Neubauer, & Pechstein, 2014). This information is invaluable to the management team. It allows the administration to make sound judgments when identifying safeguards and controls to protect different assets. If the cost of safeguarding an organizational asset exceeds the financial implications of probable damage, the institution foregoes implementing the recommended defensive mechanism. The primary disadvantage of quantitative assessment methodology is that it does not evaluate the impacts of risk on organizational functions. Thus, it is hard to determine how a given threat will affect the productivity of a business.

The second method of IT security assessment relies on qualitative information. This methodology does not require quantitative values like percentages and numbers. Instead, it seeks to determine how a given risk might affect employees or organizational performance. Fenz et al. (2014) argue that the qualitative method of risk assessment is quite subjective because it depends on the views of varied stakeholders. It is imperative to appreciate that this assessment method is descriptive and difficult to quantify. Qualitative risk assessment is mostly used in areas where it is hard to establish a numerical value of risk. Shameli-Sendi, Aghababaei-Barzegar, and Cheriet (2016) allege that qualitative risk assessment is easier to implement than quantitative security evaluation. Nevertheless, the methodology is less accurate. It entails assembling a team comprising representatives from different departments within an organization. The team identifies the possible risks that might affect their divisions and their likely impacts. Instead of focusing on the financial implications of a threat, qualitative risk evaluation seeks to understand how an event would influence productivity. For instance, when examining the threat posed to a company’s server, an analyst may determine how the productivity of a given workforce might be affected if employees do not access the necessary applications.

Qualitative risk assessment methodology yields a report that details the probable impacts of a particular security threat. The information does not outline the quantifiable financial effects of a security risk (Shameli-Sendi et al., 2016). Instead, it documents the possible business divisions that might be affected by the risk and their apparent loss in terms of productivity. Moreover, qualitative assessment gives information regarding the impacts of the given risk on public relations and organizational reputation.

A company’s reputation, functions, and public relations are critical to its success. Thus, it is imperative to use a risk assessment methodology that pays attention to these three elements. Qualitative risk assessment is the best security evaluation strategy for any organization. The quantitative assessment gives quantifiable information regarding a particular risk. The method fails to consider unquantifiable parameters that are critical to organizational development. Qualitative assessment is comprehensive because it considers the performance of the entire organization. Moreover, it enables a security analyst to understand the potential impacts of a risk on a company’s reputation and public relations. A firm’s repute and public relations dictate its economic performance because they determine if customers will buy from the business. An assessment method that only considers the financial risks fails to appreciate that a business cannot make significant returns without improving its public image and performance. Qualitative assessment is superior because it evaluates factors that contribute to the general performance of an organization.

Information technology exposes organizations to risks that might have devastating impacts on their performance. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate potential risks and take the appropriate measures. Organizations use quantitative and qualitative assessment methodologies to assess IT security risks. The quantitative methodology judges risk using measurable parameters. On the other hand, the qualitative approach uses immeasurable factors such as business reputation and performance. The quantitative assessment method is criticized for failing to consider essential factors like business factions. Even though the qualitative approach is considered subjective, it is the best method of assessing IT risks because it considers factors that are most valuable to an organization.

Cherdantseva, Y., Burnap, P., Blyth, A., Eden, P., Jones, K., Soulsby, H., & Stoddart, K. (2016). A review of cybersecurity risk assessment methods for SCADA systems. Computer & Security, 56 (1), 1-27.

Feng, N., Wang, H. J., & Li, M. (2014). A security risk analysis model for information systems: Causal relationships of risk factors and vulnerability propagation analysis. Information Sciences, 256 (1), 57-73.

Fenz, S., Heurix, J., Neubauer, T., & Pechstein, F. (2014). Current challenges in information security risk management. Information Management & Computer Security, 22 (5), 410-430.

Shameli-Sendi, A., Aghababaei-Barzegar, R., & Cheriet, M. (2016). Taxonomy of information security risk assessment (ISRA). Computer & Security, 57 (1), 14-30.

Stallings, W., & Brown, L. (2018). Computer security: Principles and practices (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

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Certification of Health IT

Health information technology advisory committee (hitac), health equity, hti-1 final rule, information blocking, interoperability, patient access to health records, clinical quality and safety, global health it efforts, health it and health information exchange basics, health it in health care settings, health it resources, laws, regulation, and policy, onc funding opportunities, onc hitech programs, privacy, security, and hipaa, scientific initiatives, standards & technology, usability and provider burden, draft 2024-2030 federal health it strategic plan.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), released the draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan for public comment. The draft plan was developed in collaboration with more than 25 federal organizations that regulate, purchase, develop, and use health IT to help deliver care and improve patient health. 

2024-2030 Draft Federal Health IT Strategic Plan [PDF - 2.3 MB]

The draft plan defines a set of goals, objectives, and strategies the federal government will pursue to improve health experiences and outcomes for individuals, populations, and communities while also promoting opportunities for improving health equity, advancing scientific discovery and innovation, and modernizing the nation’s public health infrastructure. The draft plan also places an emphasis on addressing the policy and technology components essential for securely catering to the diverse data requirements of all health IT users. 

The final 2024-2030 strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for federal agencies and a catalyst for alignment outside the federal government. Federal organizations will be able to utilize the final plan to prioritize resources, align and coordinate efforts across agencies, signal priorities to the private sector, and benchmark and assess progress over time. 

ONC encourages review and comments on the draft plan. Please submit your comments via our feedback form . Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, or Adobe PDF format. The comment period is open for 60 days and the deadline for submission is May 28, 2024 at 11:59:59 PM ET .  

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Technology Modernization Fund Announces Investments in NASA, Labor Department

The Technology Modernization Fund will help NASA drive network cybersecurity and performance improvements in support of agency missions and overall information technology infrastructure.

TMF will invest in NASA to counter threats to its IT infrastructure, which has significant security risks considering its role in facilitating partnerships with international space agencies and researchers worldwide as well as the value of its data, the General Services Administration said Tuesday.

“NASA’s IT infrastructure plays a critical role in every aspect of NASA’s mission, from enabling collaboration to controlling spacecraft to processing scientific data. Therefore, protecting and effectively evolving NASA’s information technology infrastructure remains a top agency priority,” said Jeff Seaton , the space agency’s chief information officer. “This TMF funding will help the agency to accelerate critical cybersecurity and operational upgrades two years earlier than originally planned.”

Aside from NASA, Technology Modernization Board-led TMF will also invest in the Department of Labor to support its efforts to streamline the delivery of injured worker assistance. The funding would help the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs replace the outdated Integrated Federal Employee Compensation System, or iFECS.

Hear insights from other featured government CIOs and industry leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17. Register here for the in-person event at Hilton Alexandria Mark Center.

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