Bad security is costing business and other sectors in more ways than the obvious, even if your primary function is not based on IT services. The fallout is even affecting people that have nothing to do with the Internet, and in at least one instance a woman who had left a large donation to her Ohio University Alma Mater in her will, has pulled the plug because of an information disclosure breach at the institution she had attended 50 years hence. 

This is but one seemingly isolated case of the lost of trust. But what of the larger impact of bad security? The ramifications are not always apparent, but are often far reaching long after the fact.

If you as a business or other entity are not diligent in protecting your private data, your users loose faith in your ability to function in their best interests. Integrity lost equates into loss of revenue, loss of growth, and a loss of respect to everyone involved. If your site is defaced by hackers, what is the public perception on you and your dedication to the people you serve? Not good would be putting it lightly...

Downtime spent on fixing issues cost companies thousands, if not millions, in increased staffing, equipment and software upgrades, as well as the procurement of consultants to analyze the breach. Had the University, in this case, done it's due diligence in having a clear IT strategy and proper auditing in place, the costs involved could have been better served in other ways. Now they have lost not only financially but have lost the respect of people connected with the institution. 

While reports by The Privacy Rights Organization  detail loss of data to educational institutions at about 50%, what of the rest?Big business is just as much to blame in the sad state of security today, and the loss of privacy to millions. As I detailed in an earlier story  the lack of reporting breaches is directly related to the potential loss of respect and integrity to the entity involved. Not wanting to hinder the perception and respect of their users, they simply pretend nothing has happened.  

Our suggestion is this, take the time, effort, and dollars to properly audit and secure your assets before an embarrassing defacement or data breach can affect you and your success in todays IT landscape.

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