Security Incident Evaluation

Evaluation of security incident

Evaluation of a Recent Information Security Incident

People, organizations, and government entities around the world have been using data for centuries. They have been collecting confidential information about their customers, employees, products, and finances. These data have been extracted manually for as long as data have existed for their daily operation. Data have increased in both volume and complexity, making its manual extraction and use almost impossible.

The use of the internet and computers has not only facilitated the collection and storage of data, but it has also aided in the ability to manipulate data in order to get useful information that could not be gotten otherwise. With the invention of the internet, information has become available everywhere and at any time. This means that, if a person needs to, he or she can find information on just about everything and everyone at any time.

As people use the internet as a means of disseminating information and this information becomes readily available, security becomes a real issue with today’s organizations and institutions as it is an essential component of information privacy. It is important to ensure that only authorized personnel are given access to published data. A breach of security could lead to lost of business, law suits or even bankruptcy. Businesses are required to protect confidential information, as lack of protection would be viewed in many cases as unethical and illegal. For the individual, information security has a significant effect on privacy (T. Zeller, 2006).

The State Department maintains 192 million passport files. These files contain individuals' passport applications, which include Social Security numbers, physical descriptions, and even the names and places of birth of the applicants' parents. To note, fortunately they do not contain records of overseas travel or visa stamps from previous passports.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign,...