While Australians have embraced the Internet and the advantages of e-mail, we are still reticent about using electronic commerce. Our primary concern is the security and privacy of our personal information.
Electronic commerce has the potential to be a key factor in Australia s future economic development.
It is imperative that businesses adopt their own rigorous security standards to take full advantage of the benefits e-commerce has to offer Australia. Two of the most significant threats to information systems today are hackers and malicious software, or viruses. The Standard provides guidance on a range of measures that can be used to defend against hackers. It also devotes a specific section to malicious software. The Standard on Information Security Management was developed in 1996 to implement the OECD Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems.