The Information Technology Security Dilemma

Author - ComstarISA | Aug 06 2018 12:30

information technologies intelligence

The use and spread of information technologies have been revolutionized and aided with the emergence and development of computer technologies. Electronic networks have allowed the exchange of information but it has also come with new challenges. Rights and responsibilities in the way available information is used have given rise to some ethical dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas greatly affect businesses and especially small businesses that may not have big capital outlays and expertise to deal with ethical dilemmas in the utilization of technologies.

Computer crime:

computer crimes are illegal activities performed using a computer and they include theft, financial fraud, embezzlement, online harassment, virus infection, and sabotage. Computer crimes affect all businesses that rely on the Internet to operate. Small businesses suffer more crimes because they cannot afford to implement security measures to stop the crimes, unlike the big companies. Small businesses are also reluctant to put in security measures because they believe that hackers will mainly target big companies. 

Information Technology services:

The impact new technologies are having on entire systems of production, management and governance are causing disruption across all major industries. Industries have to rapidly adapt or perish. While these advancements bring many benefits, they can also carry risks. These new advancements have the ability to affect society and drive growth if they are utilized well, but if not handled appropriately, detrimental effects such as privacy issues, threats of cyber attacks that expand into multiple industries, and more -- could occur. Countries and industries that embrace these technologies must have sound strategies to deal with and properly use information technology advancements.

Intellectual property:

Intellectual property is the creation of a business and includes the name, designs, inventions, images, and symbols that a company uses. The success of a business largely depends on its assets. Information technology has enabled other businesses or companies to imitate or copy ideas from others and use it as their own. Some of these innovations are from the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but their efforts may not be fully utilized and they don't gain any financial benefits. This is because their inventions are unprotected and are normally taken by big companies who can afford to quickly commercialize the service or product. To avoid this, the SMEs should patent their innovations, thus, preventing competitors from imitating or copying their products.
Software piracy:

The dilemma may come in when piracy is done on a large scale, as this will lead to serious losses for software manufacturers, especially those who are small-scale producers. Big companies like Microsoft can hardly feel the loss as they have a way to protect their software but small-scale businesses would greatly be affected as they are likely to incur big losses, which might eventually lead to the closure of the business. Small business firms' incentive to continue creating new software is also reduced as they fear their works would be pirated.

In summary, with this digital era of technology, companies have to face ethical and unethical issues in information technology essays and articles which are a risk to all the businesses who are concerned about their copyrights.

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