We tend to think the security threats to a business originate outside the organization. In fact, company insiders pose serious security problems. Employees have access to previleged information, and in the presence of sloppy internal security procedures, they are often able to roam throughout an organization’s systems without leaving a trace.

Studies have found that user lack of knowledge is the single greatest cause of network security breaches. Many employees forget their passwords to access computer systems or allow co-workers to use them, which compromises the system.

Malicious intruders seeking system access sometimes trick employees into revealing their passwords by pretending to be legitimate members of the company in need of information. This practice is called social engineering. 

Both end users and information systems specialists are also a major source of errors introduced into information systems. End users introduce errors by entering faulty data or by not following the proper instructions for processing data and using computer equipment. Information systems specialists may create software errors as they design and develop new software or maintain existing programs. 

Exactly, how do information systems enhance business processes? Primarily, in two ways:

1. Increasing the efficiency of existing processes.
2. Enabling entirely new processes that are capable of transforming the business.

Information systems automate many steps in business processes that were formerly performed manually such as checking client’s credit, or generating an invoice and shipping order. But today, information technology can do much more. New technology can actually change the flow of information, making it possible for many more people to access and share information replacing sequential steps with tasks that can be performed simultaneously in parallel, and eliminating delays in decision making.

That’s why it’s so important to pay close attention to business processes. By analyzing business processes in your firm, you can achieve a very clear understanding of how your business actually works!

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