Securing information systems Kirill Borovskoy
Date: Tuesday 18. November Homework 2

• Explain why information systems are vulnerable to destruction, error, and abuse.

Main reason why the information systems are so vulnerable is because they are designed to be easily accessible and they do not exist in physical form per se. Digital date is stored on servers, and if anything was to happen to so called storage, the whole system goes bust.
And last but not least: any system can be a subject to a hacker attack.

• Describe the business value of security and control

When you lose data – you lose money, simple as that. Any information you have is relevant to your business, and when this information gets into wrong hands, the same hands will be chopping pieces of your profit in no time.

• Describe the components of an organizational framework for security and control

First step in developing security system would be that of assessing the risk. Establishing weak points and determining the strengths of the system is of an utmost importance. Second – a security policy needs to be developed. And finally, there always has to be a contingency plan, involving all the levels of informational infrastructure.

• Describe the tools and technologies used for safeguarding information resources.

Firewalls and Antiviruses prevent unauthorized access to private network from happening. The very basic tool of defending the privacy of information would be using passwords and other method of authentication will prevent the initial intrusion from happening.

Apple, Google and Microsoft battle for your internet experience

1. Compare the business models and areas of strength of Apple, Google and Microsoft

Apple creates it’s own exclusive platform and life style accessory. They are not even allowing the majority of google apps to run on an iOS platforms. Apple also relies heavily on the hardware part.
Google is the complete opposite. The most open platform on the market, their policy is to become available for every user and every developer.
Microsoft are mostly competing in the “big” software, meaning desktops and laptops, and unlike Google and Apple their software costs money to the consumers

2. Why is mobile computing so important to these firms? Evaluate the mobile platform offerings of each firm in comparison.

Mobile computing is so important because that’s what people are shifting towards in their day to day working and leisure activities, hence, that’s where the money is.

Apple has a closed system that only they can control and amend, but that offers consistency and stability to the consumer
Google offers open platform for everyone for much smaller price and much easily adjustable for individual needs.
Microsoft’s strategy in the mobile department is to create one solid system, that will function for both desktop computers and your phone(Surface).

3. What is the significance of mobile applications, app stores and closed vs. open app standards to the success or failure of mobile computing?

The competition today lays in the area of applications and application markets. That’s how the final consumer decides which platform to stick with. The strength of the platform nowadays is determined by the qualities of the apps you can download.

4. Which company and business model do you think will prevail in this epic struggle? Please explain your answer thoroughly including numbers to sustain your argument.

I think for a very long time it is going to be a battle between Google and Apple. Apple is 4 times more expensive then Android device of the same calculating power, but Apple has a very loyal customer base, so the prediction today would be nothing but sheer guesswork

5. What difference would it make to a business tor to an individual consumer if Apple, Google or Microsoft dominated the Internet experience? Explain your answer.

A monopoly is hardly a good thing, and the laws of economy do not change with the internet – the end customer will pay the highest price

6. With the recent announcement of IBM strongly joining forces with Apple, would that make any difference in terms of relative strength or would this not really matter in the long run. Please explain.

IBM will only help to improve the hardware part of the mobile device. As of today we have more calculating power that we can use, so this alliance is hardly a game changer