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Ethical Issues for It and Information Professionals

In: Business and Management

Submitted By Crossins
Words 581
Pages 3
Ethical Issues for IT and
Information Security Professionals
Sandra J. Crossin
Information Security Management- MGMT 394
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract
This paper summarizes and evaluates an article addressing the ethical issues involved with being information security personnel. It will attempt to show several areas where ethics can become an issue and stimulate questions regarding activities that are not illegal, but in most cases are not ethical either. The Information Security industry does not have a specific and regulate “code of ethics” to the extent which physicians, attorneys, accountants or other professionals who have access to personal information do. This paper will attempt to evaluate whether or not such a code and its ensuing regulations should be developed. Keyword: Information Security Personnel

Professionals such as doctors, lawyers, accountants and so forth, have jobs which allows them to have access to other individual’s private information and whose duties can affect the lives of others. These professionals receive training and take courses that instruct them regarding the ethical issues involved in their respective professions. Most established professions have confronted their ethical issues, which have then been “codified” by law and are strictly monitored and regulated [ (Schinder, 2005) ]. In the IT industry, security personnel weld a certain amount of power due to the access they have to confidential and private information about individuals and company networks. Like any type of power, it can be abused. This power can be abused either deliberately or inadvertently. With all this power there are still no standardized training requirements for “hanging out your shingle” as an IT security consultant or as an information security specialist within an organization. There are IT

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