What is Information Security? Why do we need it?

Increasing complexity, speed, interconnectivity, and globalisation mean that managing information, more than ever, can involve huge costs and enormous risks.

Information, in whatever forms it takes, printed, stored electronically, recorded on film, or as personal experience, is a business asset like any other. It has value to the organisation and consequently needs to be suitably protected. In many cases business’s information may be its most valuable asset, and its most vulnerable. Buildings, stock, equipment, and other physical assets can all be insured or replaced. Critical business information cannot.

With business increasingly reliant on information, and the systems that provide it, in order to function; Information Security is fast becoming a major governance issue. 50% of documented corporate risks within business are information related.

Information Security protects this asset from a wide range of threats in order to allow the organisation to continue its business processes and develop new ideas.

Any business faces a number of risks generated by its reliance on its information assets.

• Lack of control over its information may lead to corruption or inaccuracies.
• Lack of security surrounding information assets may lead to partial or complete loss of those assets.
• Lack of coherent management may inhibit the business’s ability to take advantage of its information assets.

All these risks carry the possibility of damage to the company both financially and in reputation in the event of loss or corruption of its information assets.
Yew Tree Services can help business develop sound Information Security Management Systems, enabling it to move from a position of vulnerability to one where it is positioned to take best advantage of its information assets in a global marketplace.