Assume the role of an IT security consultant who has been contacted by a company to provide them with a written code of IT conduct for its employees and a security policy for the firm. In preparation for undertaking this large job, prepare a proposal explaining what topics you will include in the code and policy, and why.
Your proposal should address the following:
Identify the types of security relevant to IT professionals.
Explain the relationship of security to ethical IT practices.
Identify business impacts of information security breaches.
Cite authoritative industry sources to support assertions.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Proposal: Developing an IT Code of Conduct and Security Policy for Company XYZ
Introduction:
As an IT security consultant, I propose to develop a comprehensive IT code of conduct for employees and a robust security policy for Company XYZ. This proposal outlines the key topics that will be covered in both documents, emphasizing the importance of addressing various types of security, ethical IT practices, and the business impacts of information security breaches.
Types of Security Relevant to IT Professionals:
1. Network Security: Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of network resources and data.
2. Data Security: Protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration.
3. Endpoint Security: Securing devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets from cyber threats.
4. Physical Security: Safeguarding physical assets, data centers, and IT infrastructure from unauthorized access.
5. Application Security: Securing software applications to prevent vulnerabilities and unauthorized access.
6. Cloud Security: Ensuring the security of data stored in cloud environments and services.
7. Incident Response and Disaster Recovery: Establishing protocols for responding to security incidents and recovering from disruptions.
Relationship of Security to Ethical IT Practices:
Security is closely intertwined with ethical IT practices as it involves protecting individuals’ privacy, maintaining trust with stakeholders, and upholding legal and regulatory requirements. Ethical IT practices encompass respecting user confidentiality, disclosing vulnerabilities responsibly, and ensuring transparency in data handling. By prioritizing security in alignment with ethical principles, IT professionals demonstrate integrity, accountability, and a commitment to safeguarding sensitive information.
Business Impacts of Information Security Breaches:
1. Financial Loss: Information security breaches can result in financial losses due to data theft, ransom payments, legal fees, and regulatory fines.
2. Reputation Damage: Security breaches can tarnish a company’s reputation, leading to loss of customer trust and loyalty.
3. Operational Disruption: Cyberattacks can disrupt business operations, leading to downtime, productivity losses, and service disruptions.
4. Legal Consequences: Breaches may result in legal liabilities, lawsuits, and non-compliance penalties.
5. Intellectual Property Theft: Theft of intellectual property through security breaches can impact innovation and competitiveness.
Conclusion:
Developing an IT code of conduct and security policy for Company XYZ is essential to establish clear guidelines for employees on responsible IT use and security best practices. By addressing various types of security relevant to IT professionals, emphasizing the relationship between security and ethical IT practices, and highlighting the business impacts of information security breaches, the proposed documents will help mitigate risks and strengthen the company’s cybersecurity posture.
Industry Sources:
– National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Provides cybersecurity guidelines and best practices.
– Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA): Offers resources on IT governance, risk management, and cybersecurity.
– Ponemon Institute: Conducts research on data breaches and cybersecurity trends.
