IT security gets personal
Failure to conduct background checks of your staff can have dire consequences
By Alice Snell
,
Network World
, 01/18/2007
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IT security focuses on technology that stops hacking, phishing, worms, viruses and denial-of-service attacks. But security should extend to something much more human and personal -- employees. IT systems don't destroy other
systems, take equipment or steal intellectual property, but people do.
So how can your organization reduce risk? Use technology to give your hiring managers a firewall against people who could be worms in geek clothing. The need for background checks on job candidates and current employees
is growing. Dynamic working environments, a regulatory and litigious atmosphere, and business risk all play a significant
role.
Information is power. IT workers have access to electronic storage systems, e-mail, data, records and personal information. Proper assessment, screening and background checking for new IT
hires is absolutely critical to make sure they have the requisite qualifications and credentials, integrity, honesty and behaviors.
Preemployment background screening is a key way for employers to meet due-diligence requirements to hire safe, qualified employees
and to reduce negligent hiring liability and workplace violence. But it should not stop there. Postemployment background checks
or rechecks have emerged as an equally critical practice to monitor safe and legal activities and mitigate ongoing risk.
Background-checking companies estimate that between 7% and 12% of all applicants are turned away: About 5% to 6% are because
of criminal issues, 2% to 4% because of false employment or education and about 1% to 4% based on motor vehicle record or
credit problems.
Comments (2)
IT security gets personalBy Anonymous on January 19, 2007, 9:21 pmAs an IT professional, I wouldn't want to work for a firm that wanted to invade my privacy to the extent you suggest. My financial, medical and other such records...
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IT Security Gets PersonalBy Raymond on January 23, 2007, 1:07 amAs an IT person involved in Information Security and works for a large company, I can understand the concerns being raised by the author of this article as well...
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