Balancing security, efficiency, and natural disaster preparedness in computer systems

¶ … Space Answering the Following:

Can we ever protect a facility 100% given all the security tools available? Discuss.

Although 100% protection may be a laudable goal, and a personal and ideal 'benchmark' for any theorist of computer encryption and protection technology, it is not a realistically feasible one, given that, no matter how stalwart the protections of passwords, anti-virus software, and up-to-date firewalls may be, hackers are often equally adventurous. (Kaufman, et. al. 2002) At times, the more secure the system, the more attractive it is to the 'sporting' hacker. Also, popular systems may be more attractive to attacks, even though it is necessary to use such systems to exchange data between different branches of an organization. (Newman, 2002) Lastly, every concession to access and efficiency means some security concession. Always, a balance must be struck, and thus 100% protection cannot be a true goal, because one must always balance security needs, economic and efficiency needs, and the information sharing requirements of the organization and system being analyzed and protected. (Pfleeger, 2002)

Are natural disasters really security issues and are there cost effective solutions given their rare occurrence?

Although not strictly a national disaster, or even purely a computer-related disaster, the recent widespread power outage of 2003 in New York City and Northern New Jersey highlighted for many individuals, computer users among them, the dangers of an over reliance upon technology and the need for better security and backup of computer related systems. But given the rare occurrence of such scenarios, one is tempted to mitigate their potential seriousness.