Computer Security a Necessary Cost of the Future

 

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            In this article, the reader is exposed to reasons why computer security is a necessary cost of the future.  According to Mary Pat McCarthy, KPMG’s vice chairwoman of information, communications, and entertainment business, hacking is here to stat and that the cost of not protecting your company’s on-line presence can be astronomical.  She provided an example of the “I love you” virus that cost businesses throughout the world $10 billion in damages to computer system.  Also, it is estimated that businesses lost $1.6 trillion last year in computer down time resulting from security breaches and virus attacks from hackers.  Many believe that the majority of security problems happen fro within companies and that the most expert hackers are business people who do it for economic gain or political gain.

            Control and security over information is imperative for accountants in the future.  If there is a lack of quality in control and security, the information that so many people rely upon may be misrepresent3ed.  This represents a major issue for accountants.  It is necessary for firms to integrate the highest computer security to minimize the costs of their computer systems shutting down.  Valuable time will be lost and the faith of customers will be tainted.  With technology continually changing, it is important for accountants to appreciate the magnitude that information technology plays in the accounting profession and the business environment.  We must also realize that there are intelligent people that will use information technology that is not congruent with company’s goals.  We must make ourselves aware for these possibilities and we must make the necessary changes to our controls and control environment to reduce the probability of a hacker violating the integrity of our computer systems.