Organizations need to stop thinking of security as something that impedes or restricts, like the locks and seat belts in a car. Instead, they should think of security as something that enhances the ride and ensures that you reach your destination, like antilock brakes. The drive for electronic commerce, the phenomenal growth of the Internet, and the increasing popularity of business applications that use public networks require organizations to develop sound information security. Security needs to be regarded as an enhancement that contributes to the bottom line, not a function that drains it. Firms with a plan often have dedicated security staff.
Computer viruses are the most common microcomputer security breach.
Rebecca J. Duncan and Jackie Hyde are information-security analysts at Datapro.