Insider threat and Physical vulnerability Research Paper

Insider threat and Physical vulnerability - Research Paper Example Physical security of the database The growing technological advancements are posing a threat to the new requirements of the iTrust database. Cloud storage, a method of data storage that allows users to share information online is one of the basis on which the iTrust database is prone to attackers. Cloud computing can be misused to attack the database through dishonest activities. Cloud computing at the database, just like in other systems, deal with privacy and have a rather easy registration system. Although the easy registration system gets geared to make the software user friendly, criminals usually use advanced technologies to access the software. This poses the highest threat to businesses and consumers that use the system (Shaw et al, 2013). There have been cases of use of Botnets to attack a public cloud network and spread viruses. The Zeus Botnet has on several occasions attacked the Amazon cloud. The Zeus Botnet attacked Amazon’s EC2 cloud computing service managing t o install a virus. The Botnet further took control of a cloud platform. The malware remained hidden for a long time while transferring millions of dollars (Shaw et al, 2013).Two ways have been proposed to deal with such malware. The security threat posed by the malware can be addressed through implementing cloud analytics. The threat can also be addressed through employing more personnel to monitor the database. Another threat that comes with cloud computing is the difficulty with which consumers get to understand the security implications associated with usage of software like itrust database. Whereas most consumers would prefer a relatively easy set of application programming interfaces, this seems to deter efforts to safeguard the database from any threats. Ensuring that the database gets adequately safeguarded may call for complex application programming interfaces. Such interfaces are able to detect any unpermitted intrusion into the system and swiftly counter-attack the attemp t (Shaw et al, 2013) The issue of account service and traffic hijacking remains a legitimate threat to most of the iTrust users. Traffic hijacking has a wide range. It may involve spamming or use of stolen user credentials. Considering the sensitivity of the data stored in the iTrust database, hackers can in many ways put to risk the lives of the users. This can be done by just gaining a simple entrance. In a situation where the attack occurs on the urgent care, the attacker can manage to follow up on transactions, edit data stored on the database as well as steal users’ personal information .To curb this, preventive measures must be taken. Such preventive measures may include effecting password policies, use of tracking software and providing internet usage education to all employees (Researchomatic, 2012). The insider threat Insider threat can be defined as any threat that comes from people within the organization and who have the organization’s inside information re garding how the organization stores its information. The insider threat faced at the iTrust database is quite challenging. A lack of separation of duties seems to pose the greatest insider threat at the moment. Separation of duties ensures that an insider with too much power or authority is not able to attack the database using the power or authority that they have (SafeNet, 2013). Example of an incident of an insider threat is when a head of department

Biotechnology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Biotechnology - Essay Example Much debate has already taken place over this very debatable topic. The label of these foods is another very debatable topic; human beings need to be educated about these foods, it is also important to tell them about the pros and cons of consuming it. Companies would gleefully produce tons of genetically modified food but who would take the responsibility of distributing it and educating the consumers about it? These questions need to be answered sooner rather than later. â€Å"What is the level of detectability of GM food cross-contamination? Scientists agree that current technology is unable to detect minute quantities of contamination, so ensuring 0% contamination using existing methodologies is not guaranteed.† (Genetically Modified Food) Genetically modified food is the result of fine genetic engineering, human beings have come a long way and some of the recent developments that have been made are truly startling. Every coin is two sided and this particular case is no different, research goes to show that genetically modified foods have a better resistance against pests when compared to natural food. This means the losses incurred to farmers and other people who are involved in the same can easily be averted. Research also goes to show that genetically modified food is also resistant to herbicides which natural food can never be. These are some of its advantages but there are disadvantages too which must be considered to make its case even. Last year a laboratory study was published which showed that pollen from B.t. corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars consume milkweed plants, not corn, but the fear is that if pollen from B.t. corn is blown by the wind onto milkweed plants in neighboring fields, the caterpillars could eat the pollen and perish. Although the Nature study was not conducted under natural field

Group Communication Essay Example for Free

Group Communication Essay Effective group communications come in forms of verbal and non-verbal techniques. Essential parts of the entire group’s contribution are that the group contains full participating members, the group is diverse, and that the diversity is recognized and respected (Hartley, 1997). In the videos viewed, three were evaluated on the effective and ineffective communication skills of the participants and suggestions made on how they could improve. The videos are titled, â€Å"Planning a Playground†, â€Å"Helping Annie†, and The Politics of Sociology. Planning a Playground For the impact diversity plays on group member’s communication styles, I choose the video titled â€Å"Planning a Playground†. In this video, community residents are meeting for the first time to discuss an issue pertaining to funding of new neighborhood playground. The residents belong to diversified backgrounds in regards to their ages, genders, race, and SEC (Planning a Playground, 2008). The origins of the residents differ as one member is Black; one is Asian, whereas the other three are Caucasian. The residents come from different SEC backgrounds. One member opens the discussion about funding and how much difficulty they are having in raising enough money. Another member chimes in and mentions how she is close friends with a person with a lot of resources who might help with contributions. The group members communication style is totally different because their diversified backgrounds. Some sit facing the other’s and makes constant eye contact. Another sits at the ‘head’ of the table able to view everyone but does not necessary look at everyone. Some members are taking detailed written notes, where another is just sitting there listening to everyone. Physical placement places a huge effect and impact on communication. People facing each other, sitting in close proximity, ensures everyone is heard and gives a feeling of comfort. Other effective communication methods could have made use of for the meeting and benefitted all members. Two of these methods are written materials and telephones (Hartley, 1997). Written material could be repared before the group met and used to make occurrences clearer to members, who have no knowledge of the subject. The other method is telephones, which can assist the members to gain better understanding of each other. In the use of telephones there is the reduce chance of discrimination since the members can not see each other (if they have not met prior- in some incidences here). Annie To address the verbal and nonverbal interaction among the members of a group the video titled â€Å"Annie† best illustrates this. In the video there is clearly both listening and miscommunication going on. The setting of this video is that the title character, Annie is a high school girl, who seems to be suffering from a possible eating disorder as well as depression (Understanding Relationship- Helping Annie, 2008). A nurse from a school has called upon a meeting with a psychiatrist and a social worker to seek out a possible treatment plan for Annie. In â€Å"Annie†, again the physical setting and placement of participants play an important part in the communication style. Two of the members are sitting side-by-side on a couch while the third person sits in her desk chair across from the couch. The person in the chair is not only able to make eye contact with the other two but also is in a physical position to see their verbal and non-verbal communications. The two on the couch are at a disadvantage for reading the non-verbal language and making eye contact with each other. The school nurse, psychiatrist, and social workers are engaged in a verbal conversation. The psychiatrist is talking to the school nurse and is not all concerned or ready to take any sort of arguments from the social worker. He is engaging in various sorts of non- verbal communication with the social workers showing his disinterest. The various non- verbal communications used by the psychiatrist are body language and voice. He continues to cut the social worker off in mid-sentence, not allowing her to speak (Understanding Relationship- Helping Annie, 2008). These non- verbal communications were hindering the process of group communication. The two methods of communications, which could have facilitated the group would have been one-to-one conversation as well as written communication. Each member could have met individually to avoid interruptions and bad sitting placement (Hartley, 1997). Also since each one evaluated Annie separately the could have just submitted their findings and suggestions/recommendations to the social worker and let her develop a plan off of that- and send a copy to the nurse and psychiatrist for editing and review. The Politics of Sociology The third video, The Politics of Sociology†, demonstrates good communication techniques from all members of the group. The various listening techniques, which have been used by the members of this group, are encouraging, paraphrasing, and reflecting feelings. The encouraging technique used, refers to the utilization of a variety of verbal and nonverbal to promote others to go ahead with their talks. Paraphrasing is restating the conversation to give an impression that the person listening has understood the conversation. Reflecting is concerned with showing empathy with the speaker. Listening is an important activity of group communication. To bring out an effective solution or conclusion to the matter discussed, it is important to listen to all the opinions. The participants are all professors at a university but still have different backgrounds (The Politics of Sociology, 2008). There are differences in the ages, races, and subjects they teach. Each person has a different communication style. Some shot ideas out right away where others waited for all to speak then evaluate and give their opinions, while staying respectful and understanding of each other’s point of view. The physical set-up of the room plays a positive part in their effective communication. Each member is facing each other and is able to see the faces of everyone. This positioning helps cut back on misunderstandings or non-verbal cues. Even though the communication techniques used in this video seem to be effective, there are always room for change and improvement. Since the group was composed of multiple people, five or six, a visual display could have been used. Either a blackboard or overhead projector could have been set up and allow each member to put up their pros and cons for change of the curriculum as well as any ideas or suggestions they had. After each member went then one person could be delegated to summarize the lists and come up with final recommendations to be voted on (Hartley, 1997). Another method could have been to break the group up into two smaller groups to work on solutions and then bring them back to the large group for discussion. Conclusion In problem solving, group discussion, or just typical dialogue it is important to have effect communication techniques. Depending on the group or topic of conversation there are several techniques that work better for discussion then others. Taking into consideration time frame or group size written, telephone, or one-on-one techniques can be utilized. Communication styles vary among groups but key essentials are universal; listening, respecting, and appropriate interaction between members.

Can Transparency Make Organizational Responsibility More Effective?

Can Transparency Make Organizational Responsibility More Effective? Why should SystemX be so concerned about the capabilities of SoftGuides data -processing? SystemX should be concerned because SoftGuides data processing system was inadequate to handle new products plan. What competitive advantages to a training and consultancy services company may be provided by an information system? The competitive advantages to a training and consultancy services company are their competency of producing new product. The data processing can be used at any level of with any system. The security of the information that the system can provide. And how well the reliability of the system could give to their customers. Case 2: If these revisions are correct, how is planning to be organized? How should the information system support the planning organization? The planning must be organized continually adjust to the environment. The information system support the planning organization is by support activities to make sure that business strategies are being efficiently employed. The example of an information system could be used to support the planning organization is Enterprise resource planning which could help integrates internal and external management information across an entire organization. Can the information system aid in achieving shared values? Yes, the information system can aid in achieving shared values because as the revisions had said it is the most vital fluid in an enterprise. How might a comprehensive system be used to stifle initiative? To stifle the initiative in a comprehensive system are the renewal and adjustment of the activities of a firm should not come from the different levels in the management hierarchy. Case 3: What can be the drawback of having a formal system as mentioned in point 5? The drawback when having a formal mechanism for review and reiteration of the systems plan is they will missed all informal information flows come from chance meetings, reading magazines or newspapers. All procedure will have to go on with the assigned procedure, which will be a problem to the new MIS executives who are still on experimenting with the strategic planning. Can transparency make organizational responsibility more effective? Transparency can make organizational responsibility more effective because transparency of information and directives in turn allows members of an organization to more fully understand the reason behind the processes and this knowledge is going to have a tendency to encourage higher degrees of participation. In the long run this is of value because it helps a company have an easier transition falling into compliance. Case 4: Try to guess what the consultant said? What the consultant trying to say is there is a problem with the database integrity and the system reliability. Justify the use of technical jargon. Technical Jargon is words that are used by a person in a particular field when they are talking about some aspect of the field they are in and the specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group. It typically would not be understood by someone not involved with the same profession or group. Case 5: In the light of the system, describe the decisions to be made in the area of strategic planning, managerial control and operational control? What information would you require to make such decisions? Strategic planning strategic planning include the budget for the restaurant, the target market, policy and objectives. It comparing weekly sales and the food cost that enable them to plan tighter cost. This strategic planning will help in forecast in budget, the development of operating plan profit and human resource Managerial control The managerial control will get customer feedback and responsible to customer satisfaction. From that, managerial control makes decision related to customer at the restaurant. Operational control operational control will make decision on transaction processing in the restaurant. That includes takes order, tracking order, control of machine, and pay back compensation. Information needed to make such decisions above is strategic information that already compiled such as budget information, profit and capital information. Information of operational also needed like daily sales and billing in order to make the decision especially at the operational control. The information required to make these decisions can be strategic, tactical or operational information. What would make the system a more complete MIS rather than just doing transaction processing? Rather than just doing transaction processing, the system can be improves to complete Management Information System by providing all information on any level in the company such as executive information system that can support and give information in order to make decision, it can also give an easy access to external and internal information that can meet the strategic goals of the organization. DSS can be including making a complete MIS since it can help to make a better decision for the company. There is also another thing that could help them improving their system to a complete MIS which is speed up their problem solving where the time can be reduced efficiently, promoting training to staff to give them knowledge and discover new approach. Explain the probable effects that making the system more formal would have on the customers and the management. By making the system more formal, the probable effects is going to impact on the organization which can be more efficiently exchange information among its functional areas, business units, suppliers, and customers. As the transactions are taking place every day, the system stores all the data which can be used later on when the restaurant is in need of some financial help from financial institutes or banks. As the inventory is always entered into the system, any frauds can be easily taken care of and if anything goes missing then it can be detected through the system. The customers may realize the system will be more satisfying than before an gained more advantages from the system. Case 6: What security loopholes come to the fore in the situation described? How can these be plugged? The loopholes in the situation mentioned by Utpal are that the security of information is prone to security breach and viruses. It may cause troubles, to prevent it from happening while allowing the information and property to remain accessible and productive to its intended users are to struggle finding a budget and let the budget constraint vanished so he can helped the security system more advancing for brighter promising future of the company. Besides that, he could also plug or creates new security architecture in the environment because security architecture can describe how the security controls (security countermeasures) are positioned, and how they relate to the overall information technology architecture. These controls serve the purpose to maintain the systems quality attributes, among the confidentiality, integrity, availability, accountability and assurance. What is the importance of a security budget in the context of the given situation? Case 7: What are the business benefits of the web portal? Make a critical assessment. What is the importance of content management for enterprise web portals? c. Can a small business develop and maintain such a portal? Case 8: a. In the context of the given case, what managerial issues need to be addressed by Alfred? Why is it important for managers to be tech savvy? b. What is the importance of a systems consultant to an organization? What skills should he/she possess? Case 9: What are the business benefits and limitations of Rick Dalzells strategies? Why are business houses finding it difficult to keep costs down in spite of the fact that technology is getting cheaper? Case 10: a. What systems would you propose that would serve the companys needs? b. Considering that the company already has CBIS installed, will you contemplate complete overhaul of the systems or add functionalities of the existing systems? Justify your line of action. c. Justify the requirement of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the context of the given caselet. Case 11: a. How has technology helped companies like Rosenbluth deliver customized services? b. Is it possible for small companies to adopt technology similar to Rosenbluths? Why or why not? Justify. c. What is the significance of Rosenbluths statement? Give your viewpoint. Case 12: Is it justified to say that digital systems are unreliable and carries enormous risks? b. What countermeasures should be put in place to minimize damages due to failure of digital systems? Give your answer for each of the above three situations.

Spring in the Kokinshū Essays -- Poetry, The Seasons

Seasons can convey a multitude of meanings. Though the KokinshÃ… « consists of numerous sections, the seasonal sections are the best at conveying the power of human creativity. The seasons in poetry are used to show everything from the passage of time as well as evoke feelings such as loneliness and love. As shown in the spring sections of the KokinshÃ… «, seasons are treated in poetry through their progression from one part of the season to another, seasonal imagery in describing the season, related emotional expressions, and the linking of human emotion to the natural surroundings. For each seasonal section, there is a progression from beginning to end within the season. Each season is compiled in a progressive nature with poetry describing the beginning of a season coming before poetry for the end of the season. This is clear for spring, which starts with, â€Å"fallen snow [that] lingers on† and concludes with a poet lamenting that â€Å"spring should take its leave† (McCullough 14, 39). The imagery progresses from the end of winter, with snow still lingering around to when the signs of spring are disappearing. Although each poem alone does not show much in terms of the time of the year, when put into the context of other poems a timeline emerges from one season to the next. Each poem is linked to another poem when it comes to the entire anthology. By having each poem put into the context of another, a sense of organization emerges within each section. Every poem contributes to the meaning of a group of poems. The images used are meant to evoke a specific point in each season from the snow to the blossoms to the falling of the blossoms. Since each poem stands alone and has no true plot they lack the significance than if they were put into th... ...nging feeling. The longing feeling is not exclusive to the cherry blossoms, but can be subtly directed towards a person also. Spring brings beauty in the form of the cherry blossoms, but ends with a desire to see it again. Furthermore, life, whether human or natural, is not eternal. It will only go on for so long before it reaches an end. Each season only comes once a year, and everything associated with it will not return till the next year. As a result, the relatively short-lived life is regarded as a reason to appreciate every last bit of beauty in the season however minor or seemingly insignificant. Everything is taken into account and admired. Once it is gone, the only choice is to wait for it to return in a year. Throughout the seasonal sections of the KokinshÃ… «, this connection between natural beauty and the human condition can be seen through the poetry.

Stalin Hitler Mussolini Essay -- essays research papers

Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, and Benito Mussolini were all famous leaders of their time. When the word famous is mentioned for their description, it is not necessarily good. In fact none of them were known for anything good. You could say they were in†famous†. They all lead during the same time period; during the early to mid 1900s. Stalin was part of the Russians, Mussolini was with the Italians, and Hitler was with the Germans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joseph Stalin, of Russia, was completely uninterested in ideological debates, as he wanted to establish his own power within the Soviet system. Stalin had Trotsky expelled and ousted Bukharin in order for this to occur. Because of his torture technique for people to confess their crimes, about 10 million Russians were arrested in the late 1930s. Stalin even sent an assassin to kill Trotsky in 1940. In 1928, Stalin implemented the Five-Year Plan to expand Russia into an industrial nation. In order to find money for this, Stalin forced the kulaks, or wealthy peasants, to work on the farms. All of this brought the Soviet Union to a major industrial power in the end of the 1930s, while all others were in a devastating economic depression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Benito adopted his father’s Socialist beliefs. His views began to change during the war when Mussolini broke with his fellow Socialists and supported Italy’s entrance into the war. He formed the National Fascist Party, which fought leftist organizations. The...

Thirty Days as a Cuban Article Review

â€Å"THIRTY DAYS AS A CUBAN† Article Review Based on Patrick Symmes' article â€Å"Thirty Days as a Cuban†, it seems as though the degree of ECONOMIC INEQUALITY (the extent of the economic difference between the rich and the poor) in Cuba is relatively low. While many people still make more than others, the vast majority of Cubans are significantly poor and suffer from starvation from day to day. Symmes' account of the average life of a Cuban was interesting because I don't believe many people are aware of the suffrage going on in this country. I, for one, am a prime example of this.I had no idea that such a state existed in Cuba. The ration system and dictatorship of the country contribute immensely to the degree of poverty. And in turn, poverty results in what we would label as DEVIANCE and CRIME (behavior that violates norms and arouses negative social & behavior that violates written laws, respectively). These people literally have no choice but to result to crime in order to survive. The communistic ways and schemes of the government do not really enable moral and ethical ways of making even a mere comfortable living.This suggests an inevitably low chance of VERTICAL MOBILITY (the movement up or down a through a society's stratification system) in the sense that while the Cuban government might like to think or tell people that movement up the vertical scale is possible, it really is not. Another point I found interesting is that the Cubans seem to be pretty CLASS CONSCIOUS (aware of their social class membership, the structural reasons for it, and the needs arising from such membership). They are 100% aware of where they stand in the social ladder, but there is virtually little they can do about it.They are aware of what the government is doing– giving them just enough to â€Å"get by†, but, in reality, is not enough to survive. â€Å"†¦ The problem in Cuba isn't food, or clothes. It's the total lack of civil liberty, an d therefore of economic liberty, which is why you have to have the libreta in the first place. † This quote validates my point exactly. The Cubans are very aware of their suppression, but in contrast to Karl Marx's theory that the oppressed would inevitably revolt if they had class consciousness, the Cubans cannot because of the dictatorship existing in their country.