Public perception that eCommerce is too new or unreliable is essentially a security issue. The lack of eCommerce standards is an issue related to inter-operability and security. A new issue that our survey brings to light is the shortage of skilled resources to implement and maintain eCommerce initiatives. The implication is that the future will see organisations using more and more external consultants to develop and manage their Internet and eCommerce presence. This has the potential of introducing other risks associated with outsourcing and organisations should recognize and address these risks.
Security is by far the greatest concern to the organisations surveyed.
Eight-three per cent of the organisations surveyed listed security as a major concern. Ninety-three per cent indicated that they were moderately to extremely concerned about the security risks of connecting the corporate network to the Internet. Computer crimes have increased rapidly in recent years. In Singapore, the number of reported computer crime cases has increased from three reported cases between 1993 and 1995 to 39 cases in 1997. Availability - when business systems and processes are not available, the business is disrupted and customers become dissatisfied.