Many catalogs are already available to tens of thousands of government buyers and personnel. Research published in Federal Computer Week indicates that 46 percent of federal employees use the Internet to retrieve technical information, including technical reports and product specifications. Such listings can be extremely valuable to a small organization for the broad exposure that they can provide. Every prudent business manager has concerns about the potential for data theft and sabotage. The numerous players in Internet commerce, however, are minimizing the risks.
Browsers can warn of potential website hazards and provide document certification and encryption.
Programmers are creating custom Web applications that are inherently secure. And new encryption technologies are providing strong security for the transfer of credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive information. The basis of a successful plan is viewing the Internet as a mode of communication, but you should not use it to replace business relationships. The people, organizations, and institutions that earned your trust in the past will provide a trustworthy Internet presence in the future. Communication is still human interaction, not technology.