Benefits and Pitfalls of Information Security in an Office Environment
Daniel Miller
Troy State University

Benefits and Pitfalls of Information Security in an Office Environment
Introduction
Information security is a critical concern in most, if not all modern office environments. Moreover, the more an organization depends on information technology to execute its core functions, the more important information security proportionally becomes (Tiwari & Karlapalem, 2005). Although companies have always recognized the importance of protecting sensitive information, the particular issue of information security is largely an outgrowth of the invention of modern computers. Starting during World War II, computer scientists and operators began to recognize the major contours of modern information security systems: protection of physical premises, hardware, and software (Whitman and Mattord, 2010, p. 3). Today, information security practices are prevalent across all forms of business and government, especially where personal computers and the Internet are used. Typical office and business environments are natural sites for information security to be implemented, and such practices have both advantages and disadvantages—or benefits and pitfalls. The benefits of information security in office environments are primarily related to its ability to contribute to business success by securing systems, data, and other key assets from threats and attacks. Conversely, the pitfalls are primarily related to the trade-off between security and accessibility, financial cost, opportunity cost, and other related factors. This paper explores these benefits and pitfalls through four sections. In the first section, this paper elaborates on the role of information security, discussing the C.I.A. triad and major aspects of information security. In the second section, this