The administration of all the data available to the business, when it is needed at the right moment by the appropriate person, is the main task of the information system. The lack of standards in the data system is where most management problems are found (Kramer, 2019). Workers prefer to work how they want, albeit an information system compels them to follow the guidelines established by management (Pittenger et al., 2022). Security concerns are another major problem with the information system. Recently, the world has witnessed how unscrupulous entrepreneurs have caused significant loss of the personal data of thousands of people. Security issues and the lack of standardization constitute the two primary issues of the current information system.
First, data management systems can be integrated at different levels to solve the data standards issue. Specialist data control systems can be employed for certain company operations, such as customer relationship management, business intelligence, salesforce automation, and knowledge management (Pittenger et al., 2022). Most tasks in these systems are automated, leaving only maintenance and direction to be handled by people (Kramer, 2019). This reduces the possibility of human fault and compels users to follow the rules established by management. These solutions enable users who are not IT experts to understand concepts easier thanks to the clever design and focus on other essential aspects rather than wasting time on the technical aspects of the job.
Second, security issues contain various threats like software viruses, unapproved entries, and data loss. Emphasizing the already available data is essential for sustaining security since businesses tend to place little value on this data, which in turn causes them to place less value on security (Pittenger et al., 2022). Proxies, spyware monitoring, anti-virus software, and some intrusion detection protection should all be used by the business to safeguard its sensitive data. It is crucial to continually refresh the user’s gear and software as the use of cloud-based solutions increases. Private, secure networks should be used to transfer data, and only a small number of people should have access to sensitive information. In case of data loss, a backup of the data is also crucial.
One could contend that today’s IT companies are almost unrecognizably different from those from five years ago due to the radical changes in their operations. The IT industry has shifted in the past few years, and there will be much more change in the next five years (Kramer, 2019). With less reliance on programmers and human interference and more reliance on automation processes, the use of automation in the IT sector will increase, fundamentally altering how decisions are made (Pittenger et al., 2022). Future technologies like AR and VR will significantly affect the IT industry, making existing coding languages less useful (Kramer, 2019). This will substantially impact decision-making since the IT industry relies heavily on human capital. What type of organizational structure businesses will have in the future depends on whether they plan to move forward with the same number of staff or fewer employees and greater automation.
Sending important information via email or instant message is among the internal data security dangers. The fact that sensitive information is often sent via email poses a considerable risk (Kramer, 2019). However, establishing a network analyzer gateway to filter particular attachments or phrases can reduce the risk. Additionally, it is possible to prevent unauthorized individuals or third parties from accessing critical information (Pittenger et al., 2022). Exploiting sensitive data through hacking tools like keyloggers is the second risk likely to emerge (Kramer, 2019). Implementing access controls and solid sharing is essential to reduce such dangers. It is advised to monitor real-time logs to provide more robust security measures. The risk of using a wireless network insecurely is the final danger. It is helpful to install a firewall to prevent people from connecting to the system or to utilize a VPN for distant connectivity to reduce this type of danger.
Breakage from an invader is a striking illustration of a risk to external information. There have been instances of burglars accessing computers by picking locks, according to reports (Kramer, 2019). The incident may have been staged internally or by an outsider. Hence, users should ensure the work area is constantly well-guarded to reduce such threats. Before hiring an employee, they must be thoroughly pre-screened to ensure they are trustworthy. A fire outbreak can be considered the second most common external risk. Thus, users must ensure that their backup data is stored on a different server or in a different area to reduce this danger.
The issues, risks, and relevant mitigation strategies mentioned above will affect the decision-making processes. For employees to become more responsive and adaptive, change management approaches must be applied immediately. Modifying the organization’s structure under the new specifications will be necessary. New laws can be created at the state level based on the demands. Overall, IT is increasingly offering and generating commercial value rather than just supplying the business with technology. Nevertheless, some potential risks and threats come along with it. Hence, it is the responsibility of both the users and the information system to be in check and ensure personal cyber security.
References
Kramer, J. D. (2019). Developmental test and requirements: Best practices of successful information systems using agile methods. Defense AR Journal, 26(2), 128-150.
Pittenger, L. M., Berente, N., & Gaskin, J. (2022). Transformational IT leaders and digital innovation: The moderating effect of formal IT governance. ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, 53(1), 106-133.