Search Report Example

Search Report Example Search Report â€" Assignment Example > Abstract Information security is a very sensitive issue because of the ethical issues that are raised as areas of concern. The expansion of global networks has facilitated the smooth operations of trade and commerce because of increased use and dependence on computing systems and communication. Attacks that have been directed at information assets have heightened the need for information security. Securing these systems has had organizations develop their own pool of information security to ensure that they have secure computing environments. The law mandates organizations to protect the personal employee information such as phone numbers and their medical conditions for security reasons (Quigley, 2004). While this information falls into the category of personnel data information security is expected to ensure that this data receives the same level of protection accorded to the important data in the organization. Information security problems that arise most of the time are not te chnical problems but a people problem. This is because ethical issues do not arise because of technical problems but because of people either intentionally or by accident (Buchanan Huczynski, 2004). This report looks at the ethical issues of information security as well as the various legislations that have been made to guarantee information security to individuals as well as to organizations and the empirical theories that explain behavior. IntroductionSecurity is a major concern in every facet of today’s life and technology is no exception. Technology exposes its users to various threats and so the need for legal systems to guarantee the safety of its users (Whitman Mattord, 2009). The internet which is the base of information technology has no geographical boundaries and this makes it a security concern in every country of the world. While it is impossible to formulate laws that generate acceptable behavior, ethics produce socially acceptable behavior in society and it is t herefore the responsibility of organizations to establish their codes of ethical behavior that their users should adhere to and live by (Whitman Mattord, 2009). This is because ethics provide society with the morals standards that enable it function easily. Based on this organizations have formulated their own codes of ethics that its members should abide by which is a collaborative effort that aims to raise awareness of computer responsibility (Whitman Mattord, 2009). Research methods and approachA random assessment of information security variables was used and a model constructed with all these variables: the law, policy and behavior. The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews to provide information about the underlying factors that affect the ethical behaviors of individuals. The inter-relationships between these variables and the overall effect they have on the ethical judgments of individuals. Application of the law and ethics in information securityInformat ion security is governed by laws and ethics which are determined to maintain balance in the society. Laws prohibit certain behavior while ethics are socially acceptable behaviors (Whitman Mattord, 2009). Organizational ethics are drawn from the moral attitudes and the customs of the organization. Actions that move away from what is viewed as acceptable behavior may be punished by the law as a crime. An organization’s legal environment influences the scale in which the information security professionals are able to guarantee the safety of the organization’s information (Whitman Mattord, 2010). The law enforcement is contacted first due their capacity to handle physical security threats but they are ill equipped to handle electronic crime.