02
Sat, Nov
2 New Articles

When Management Turns Its Back on Security: The Business Effects

Security - Other
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Something is preventing management from understanding the need to secure its electronic data.

 

Editor's note: This article introduces the white paper "When Management Turns Its Back on Security: The Business Effects" available free at the MC White Paper Center.

 

One of the great mysteries as we walk into an IBM i shop is the lock on the computer room door. Often, when we first start consulting engagements, we are given a tour of the facility, and inevitably it includes a tour of the "raised floor" computer room, outfitted with expensive air-handling equipment and protected by a door that requires specific authorization to enter. The mystery is that, while all this expensive hardware needs physical protection, the company's most valuable assets are wide open to people who don't need access to them.

 

That's right. We're talking about the data kept on the hardware. That data is a corporate asset, yet time and time again we are confronted by management that does not see a need to protect that data. What's more valuable to a company? Is it the hardware that can easily be replaced or the inventory records, customer lists, private information, credit card numbers, etc. that are stored on the hardware? Beyond the computer room, the need to guard the physical safety of an asset is obvious in almost every business we work with. Retail stores are locked during off hours, and alarms are set. Guards are posted at entry doors, bags are checked before entering corporate headquarters, and sensors are placed around inventory in warehouses to detect theft. So why, when it's a physical asset, is the need for security obvious, but when the asset is in electronic form, the same considerations aren't made?

 

We all remember the TJX (parent of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls) data breach. Undoubtedly, the hardware on which this data resided was dutifully protected behind locked doors. Looking back, do you think the cost of the hardware can even come close to the cost of the breach (which is known to be at least $250 million and quite possibly more)? Doubtful. Yet with all the physical safeguards to their hardware, the data was left unprotected and the rest is history. While many of us would like to be written up in the history books, it's unlikely that being the poster child for data breaches is what we want to be known for. Perhaps it's time to adjust our strategy.

 

Back to our "great mystery." Repeatedly, we are confronted by management that doesn't understand the need to correct the issue. Often, additional security controls need to be applied to the data residing on the IBM i, yet the organization's management refuses to allocate the resources to correct the issue. How can this happen when the need is so clear? The answer: The need is clear from a technical perspective, but it's not obvious from a business perspective. In other words, the importance of the decision to the business is not understood.

 

In this white paper, we hope to explain why the decision to secureor not securedata on the IBM i needs to be a business decision, not a technical decision.

 

Something is preventing management from understanding the need to secure the electronic data. So let's explore why we think this happens.

 

Want to know more? Download the free white paper "When Management Turns Its Back on Security: The Business Effects" from the MC White Paper Center.

0 0

The realm of cybersecurity and automation is always changing, and we’re evolving right alongside it. Say hello to Fortra, the new face of HelpSystems. We’re bringing you the same people-first support you’ve come to expect from HelpSystems, only now we’ve been Fortra-fied with the purpose of providing you with exceptional protection and peace of mind along every step of your journey. 

Our team of expert problem solvers is ready to find answers to your organization’s toughest problems, and our best-in-class portfolio ensures that we’ll land on an integrated, scalable solution that’s right for you. 

We’re tenacious in our pursuit of a stronger, simpler future for cybersecurity. 

Who’s with us?

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: