Protecting Data Becomes Top Security Priority for IT

In a recent articlem titled Protecting Data Becomes Top Security Priority for IT on November 13, 2006 in ComputerWorld magazine, looks at issues of personal information and nonpublic information that is already in a system. This information needs to be secure because right now organizations are so worried about information coming into the system with firewalls and such that blocks viruses or information that does not need to be in the system out of the system. The information that is in a system needs to be secure which would have, like stated in the article where John Ceraolo (2006) was quoted as saying, "...an increased focus within IT on security measures such as data classification and encryption, end-user access and authentication, and usage monitoring and auditing... (64)." Ceraolo, director of information security at JM Family Enterprises, Inc. talks about the importance of securing the information that is in a system. As I got through everything that I learned through IT class at GSPIA this has been one of those articles that I have seen some of the things that we have learned in our labs in the real world. Patrick Howard, CISO at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (2006), stated in the article that the organization as a whole, "...pulled back the sheet and discovered that there is a lot to do [to protect personal data] (64)." There is a lot of work ahead for some organizations as they try to make sure that everyone's information is protected. The increased technology helps these organizations gain the security they are looking for. Keeping stronger locks on information allows the users that need to see the information able to unclock the code, but it also protects the information from people who do not need to see the information. Information technology is an important part of many organizations and also allows them to learn and experiment with newer ideas, like encrypting and encoding information to secure it from unauthorized users.

Milestone VII: Database I

Wow...this was one lab and chapter that is a hard one to find just one 'ah-ha' moment because it is all so new to me that just looking at one thing is hard. I understand that databases are important to keep track of information easier than other program. Just getting to know the basics of databases is what I have found to be very intersting and it would be cool to look into trying to get a database together to work on but I still do not feel completely sure about the whole process. I really do not have anything to really database either to try to work on it, so I guess in the skeam of things I Microsoft Office did not provide access with my downloaded programming it almost seems that databasing is not as big as it used to be. The whole chapter has been my 'ah-ha' moment, and has allowed me to slowly yet beneficially start to understand databases. When I worked at my undergrad Mercyhurst College's Performing Arts Center as part of the marketing team, one of our GA's decided that we would use a database to put all of the information we had into it along with costs of the groups, marketing information, contact information, and anything else that we figured out was the best stuff to put out there for us to see. This made it easier with the extreme amount of information that was coming in about the groups, allowing anyone in the PAC to see information that they might need to use to work on different projects.

In this lab, we learned just some of the basics in understanding databases. By working on a database in class, during the lab, I gained information about what databases can do for people who are in the place of working with many different organizations. To just start and understand entities and attributes allows me to slowly understand what is going on when you work with a database. Databases are very beneficial and help with the efficiency factor in organizations. The ease of pulling up informationis great. Just playing around with a database helps to understand how the different entities and attributes along with using the different operations that allow you to only pull certain information out. I think it is great the use of 'select,' 'project,' 'difference,' 'product,' and 'join.' This section has been kind of overwhelming while I try to learn more about databases.

Milestone VI: Spreadsheets

I have used spreadsheets on many occasions so this ah-ha moment was a little bit harder to find. With some more playing around and experimenting with the program of Excel, I was able to expand my horizons on this great software. I have used spreadsheets in the past to organize contact lists when I worked in the Marketing Department for Mercyhurst College's Performing Arts Center, organize my own money, organize what classes I need to take to keep up with the program, as well as being able to bring data together and allow it to be more logically put together. Spreasheets have a wide array of possiblities. Here is an example of what I have used spreadsheets for...to list out classes that I have finished and that I need to do. I go through and list out all of the classes that I need to take and then I am able to go through and figure out when classes are being offered and when I need to take the classes in comparison to when it is offered. I think Excel allows for easier organization for a lot of information (numbers, subjects, etc.).

Spreadsheets have great use in the workplace. The only thing that I can think about that I learned from the lab is that if you click on the button right next to the control bar allows you to see all of the function keys for any kind of math problem that you would want to do in a spreasheet. This has become very helpful as I have continued my studies in statistics in the Quantitative Methods I course. This has helped me in completing work more efficiently. Outside of schooling, I see that Excel can help if you want in charge of contact lists, money donations, etc. Excel is a very beneficial program as I move into the workplace.

Where is Our Privacy Going?

The more and more we discuss privacy issues in our class the more and more I do not feel secure and safe. I feel that people know more about everyone else than they know about themselves. This has become a big issue in the nation as a whole especially when it comes to databases that are storing information about many people's lives and allowing others to find out this information that may not needed. In an October 16, 2006 article, Privacy Group Sues FBI for Database Info, talks about some of the issues that are coming up with the increasing demand for a database with information about people from all over the nation. It is stated in this article that:

• The 9/11 report said the database was first delivered in January 2004 and "contains all data that can legally be stored together... (providing) a single access point to several data sources that were previously available only through separate, stove-piped systems."
  The FBI has said the database provides FBI agents and analysts with "instant access to photographs, biographical information, physical location information, and financial data for thousands of known and suspected terrorists," according to a March 2005 speech by John E. Lewis, deputy assistant director of the counterterrorism division.

It is scary to this that in a simple click on the keyboard and there is instant access to everything that is a person's background and life. Yeah, I understand the whole thing about we need to give up some of our privacy to gain some security, but all in all there might be some things that I do not want everyone to find out about. Why do they need to know my financial data? How do they decide who goes into these databases? It is a ll a little too much to gain security because some people might be in there that do not need to be in there, and there might be people who are not in there that need to be under more surveillance. 'The Electronic Frontier Foundation has sued the Justice Department for not following the precedents that have been set if these would be coming into effect, one of which is letting the public know what is going on with the database.' I want to be safe and secure, but I do not know if I want to give up all of my privacy for it. But I guess, I have not done anything that I would care if it got out or not. This subject is hard to decide what to think about. I guess I would be willing to give up some freedoms for more security, but not everything. There needs to be lines draw and specified. This maybe hard because what information do you really need and what information you do not need maybe different in every situation.

It is just hard to imagine our worlds being totally put out in a database and making it available for many people to see. My sister had a friend (who was Middle Eastern) who was coming over from England and the US would not allow him to come in because there were 25 men with the same name in the US already and they could not locate one of them, so he was not able to come into the country. This seemed to be unbelievable, yet it was true. They finally found the guy and let him come from England to here. People are starting to be guilty before proven innocent instead of the way our justice system to based on by being innocent until proven guilty. I guess with all of these databases we are going to be watched more closely, even though right now it is not being used for everyone just who the government feels needs to be watched. How is that decision made? Where is privacy and security going to meet? After 9/11, our security and our feeling of being safe went away, but with time I think that nation will gain that safety and security back. Hopefully in the years to come, the feeling of being safe in our own homes will be back and every time you see an airplane you will not think that maybe someone is on there planning on killing thousands of people and even though our extent of privacy maybe less, many people will be safer and more secure in their nation.

Milestone V: Privacy and Encryption

This being my group's turn into deciding how best to show the class what privacy and encryption was all about through our lab assignment, I was able to look more in depth at what we were trying to show. We wanted to make things fun, and to also understand the significance and importance of this issue while doing anything online. Snyder and Garson hit the topic of privacy hard. Privacy is such a big issue in our lives right now. First off being able to understand the laws and acts that have been put in place, will allow the public to understand what they can do to help be their own first line of defense when they feel that their lives are being watched. Being able to tell telemarketers to take them off of their call list and if they call back, a person can sue the company, allows people to step up and take control of who calls them. To also understand that there is a way to encrypt to code messages allows people to gain more control of what people know and gain access to. I guess the more I thought about encryption I do not think I would ever use it because I do not think that I have/know any information that is worth coding. But I guess in a way it is my 'ah-ha' moment in this chapter, and I guess I give out the key so you can decipher what I am trying to get across to you. The key is take the position of the letter and shift down 2 spots and use that position number. This is going to be the symmetric key for the next part of my post.

715520118221117161121310320621121227152217231667202122316642322251122103137122117157212139747517157212472015147320.

It is incredible to think that some people encrypt everything they do because it takes so much more time and effort than one usually wants to take to a write a message. A software would help make this so much easier, by typing in the message and then the software puts it into code and another person puts the code in and the message comes out right. Wow, encryption, it is cool to try to use, but it is very time consuming and sometimes confusing if you lose your spot while typing out the code. I was going to try to do my whole blog in encryption but it would have taken forever for me to write and forever for you to figure it out. Good Luck with what I tried, hopefully it is not too hard. Just remember than some of the numbers are not just single numbers, that there are some double numbers and at the end of the alphabet go back to the beginning of the alphabet for the shift. This is actually fun, but way too much time to figure it out the code. If you want the answer to the above encrypted message (it is something simple), but if you really want it, just comment and I'll send it to you. Good Luck!!

Milestone IV: Case Study in Online Research

It is interesting to see that you can gain access to primary sources online. This helps to make researching topics a lot easier because everything is on the internet and you are able to view some things that you might never be able to see. By reading into searches you are able to truly see what is primary or what is a secondary source. I really did not know you could find primary sources online, I thought that you had to actually go to certain libraries to be able to gain access to these types of sources. The internet has opened many, many doors for people when they want to look into topics, any topics. From being able to look up primary sources to secondary sources, to pictures, and video clips. Everything has become easily accessible with the internet. This is a great way to start looking into exactly what the internet can do for a person. You think you know all the ins and outs of the internet and searching, but then you come across a chapter like this in an IT class and you are totally blown away by the information that you can truly find online. I tried just searching around on the internet to try and see the new searching techniques like using AND, OR, along with searching for images. The internet is amazing because of the extensive areas it searches.

The Digital Divide Getting a Little Smaller

In the article, In Baghdad Life Moves Online , CNN Reporter looks at how in recent years Iraq has been able to finally start their lives online. With the fall of Hussein in 2003 the Iraqi public got to at least enjoy a little bit more freedom with going online, since before that Hussein kept the internet for only people who he felt should get it. The internet has opened so many doors for the people in Iraq. They are completely open to the new ideas of people able to talk with friends and family that are across the country. This is an awesome transition for the people in Iraq to be able to in a small way start to close some of the digital divide that was affecting their lives. Even though the limits are very restricting on these people it is at least giving them a little bit of a step in the right direction.

I know how I am about instant messaging and talking to friends online and I get to see them all of the time, unlike the Iraqi people who hardly get to see their friends if they have had to move because of the fighting. I think it is amazing that they are being opened to this world of internet and messaging. The more I think about it, I can't even think of my life without the internet and messaging. It is a big part of our lives and it is hard to think that some places do not even have that opportunity to have access. This allows the people to have an outlet from the war that is going on in their backyards, as well as during the night. It gives them comfort in a world where they do not feel comfortable. This is a great way for the Iraqi people to gain an independence from their government. Iraq is moving forward, one instant message at a time.