The IRS Needs To Better Define Computer Security Responsibilities

The IRS Needs To Better Define Computer Security Responsibilities

According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) needs to clarify the roles and responsibilities of those employees responsible for protecting the security of taxpayer data and other sensitive information, according to a new report publicly released today.

While the IRS has educated its employees about information technology (IT) issues, TIGTA found that it did not document all IT security roles and responsibilities in the Internal Revenue Manual (IRM); develop and document day-to-day IT security procedures and guidelines; properly conduct compliance assessments to test IT procedures; or establish effective metrics for measuring compliance with procedures.

As a result, TIGTA concluded, the IRS cannot ensure all IRS and contract employees will carry out their responsibilities to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of taxpayer data.

TIGTA recommended that the IRS update the IRM to include all IT security roles, ensure that security roles and responsibilities are periodically reviewed and updated, and develop procedures to validate compliance with IT procedures. In addition, TIGTA recommended that the IRS reopen the roles and responsibilities component of the computer security material weakness.

The IRS agreed with three of TIGTA’s recommendations which is great bu t declined to reopen the roles and responsibility component of the computer security material weakness which is crap.

THE IMPACT OF ICT ON SOCIETY

THE IMPACT OF ICT ON SOCIETY

FASTER COMMUNICATION SPEED

In the past, it took a long time for any news or messages to be send. Now with the Internet, news or messages are sent via e-mail to friends, business partners or to anyone efficiently. With the capability of bandwidth, broadband and connection speed on the Internet, any information can travel fast and at an instant. It saves time and is inexpensive.

LOWER COMMUNICATION COST

Using the Internet is cost-effective than the other modes of communication such as telephone, mailing or courier service. It allows people to have access to large amounts of data at a very low cost. With the Internet we do not have to pay for any basic services provided by the Internet. Furthermore, the cost of connection to the Internet is relatively cheap.

RELIABLE MODE OF COMMUNICATION

Computers are reliable. With the internet, information could be accessed and retrieved from anywhere and at anytime. This makes it a reliable mode of communication. However, the input to the computer is contributed by humans. If the data passed to the computer is faulty, the result will be faulty as well. This is related to the term GIGO.

GIGO is a short form for Garbage In Garbage Out. It refers to the quality of output produced according to the input. Normally bad input produces bad output.

EFFECTIVE SHARING OF INFORMATION

With the advancement of ICT, information can be shared by people all around the world. People can share and exchange opinions, news and information through discussion groups, mailing list and forums on the Internet. This enable knowledge sharing which will contribute to the development of knowledge based society.

PAPERLESS ENVIRONMENT

ICT technology has created the term paperless environment. This term means information can be stored and retrieved through the digital medium instead of paper. Online communication via emails, online chat and instant messaging also helps in creating the paperless environment.

BORDERLESS COMMUNICATION

Internet offers fast information retrieval, interactivity, accessibility and versatility. It has become a borderless sources for services and information. Through the Internet, information and communication can be borderless.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

There are some negative effects of ICT. It has created social problems in the society. Nowadays, people tend to choose online communication rather than having real time conversations. People tend to become more individualistic and introvert.

Another negative effect of ICT is :

• fraud

• identity theft

• Pornography

• Hacking

This will result a moral decedent and generate threads to the society.

HEALTH PROBLEMS

A computer may harm users if they use it for long hours frequently. Computer users are also exposed to bad posture, eyestrain, physical and mental stress. In order to solve the health problems, an ergonomic environment can be introduced. For example, an ergonomic chair can reduces back strain and a screen filter is used to minimize eye strain

COMPUTERISED AND NON-COMPUTERISED SYSTEMS

COMPUTER SYSTEM

A system is an arrangement of elements that when it is put together it becomes an organised and established procedure. A system typically consists of components connected together in order to facilitate the flow of information, matter or energy.

A computer system consists of a set of hardware and software which processes data in a meaningful way.

EDUCATION

• education is the science of teaching and learning of specific skills
• it also imparts knowledge, good judgement and wisdom

BANKING SYSTEM

BANKING BEFORE ICT
• banking was done manually by taking deposits directly
• transactions can only be made during working hours
• takes time to approve any loan applications

BANKING WITH ICT
• all transactions are done by computers
• transaction can be done at anytime and place
• online services, phone banking system, credit cards are available

INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY BEFORE ICT
Production was slow because everything was done manually and totally depended on human labour.

INDUSTRY WITH ICT
Computers and telecommunications industry became very opular and profitable since production can be increased through an all day operation.

COMMERCE

Commerce is an activity of exchanging, buying and selling of commodities on a large scale involving transportation from place to place.

COMMERCE BEFORE ICT
• Trading was made using the barter system and it was then later developed
into currency.
• Advertisement was in the form of word of mouth, billboards and printed
flyers.
• Trading globally was extremely slow, late and expensive. Traders had to find
ways to market local products in the global market.

COMMERCE WITH ICT
E-commerce plays an important role in the economic scene. It includes distribution, buying, selling and servicing products that are done electronically

USAGE OF ICT IN EVERDAY LIFE

EDUCATION

Today, most schools and higher educational institutions have computers in the classroom for teacher and students. In education, teachers, students, researchers and school administrators benefits from the usage of ICT.

1. Teachers use computers to research for teaching materials, participate in online forums and online conferences as well as to aid their teaching.

2. Students use the computers as a reference tool. They use computers to browse the Internet to look for information.

3. School administrators use computers for administrative purposes to make sure that the entire operation runs smoothly.

BANKING

The computer is the nerve centre of the banking system around the world. It functions to control the entire banking system that also includes 'Electronic Banking Services'. Electronic banking provides 24 hour services. The services include :

• Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

• Cheque Deposit

• Electronic Fund Tranfer

• Direct Deposit

• Pay by phone system

•Personal computer banking/ internet banking.In the banking sector, customers, businessman and bank administrator benefits from the usage of ICT.

1. Customers can make any transactions at the 24 hour service centres or via online.These services allow them to do transaction at anytime they want.

2. Businessmen can save their time by using the online services offered by banks. They can access company accounts for loan applications, business transactions and update on their cash flow at any time.

3. Bank administrators can oversee the entire banking activities such as reconciliations, inter-branch transactions (IBT), telegraphic

transfer and others by referring to the banking system.

INDUSTRY

Computers are used to facilitate production planning and control systems, to support chain management and to help in product design in the industrial sector In the industrial sector ,workers, researchers and administrator benefits from the usage of ICT.

1. Workers use machines that are connected to computers to operate. In some productions, robots are used to take over jobs that are dangerous to the workers.

2. Researchers use computers to analyze and collect research data for future reference.

3. Administrators use computers to oversee the entire operations in the plant or factory to detect specific errors or defects that occurred in the process.

E-COMMERCE

E-commerce helps in boosting the economy. It makes buying and selling activities easier, more efficient and faster. For this application, computers, Internet and shared software are needed.

In the e-commerce sector ,customers r, suppliers and employees benefits from the usage of ICT.

1. Customers use computers to be connected online with suppliers to purchase products. This method can save time and cost as they do not have to go to any outlets.

2. Suppliers use computers to keep track of their transactions. All products are bar coded and can be read by the computer scanner to help in determining prices and managing inventory.

4. Employees use computers and telephones to communicate with their customers for any enquiries. The system helps employees to get the latest updates on inventory to be informed to the customers.

OTHER SECTOR

1. Architectute
2. Arts
3. Career
4. Healthcare
5. Home

EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER

The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different generation of computer is characterized by a major technological development that fundamentally changed the way computer operate,resulting in increasing smaller. cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable device.

GAMBAR KOMPUTER MENGIKUT PEREDARAN MASA.

                                  dahulu:

sekarang:

masa hadapan:

GENERATION OF COMPUTER

THE FIRST GENERATION (1940-1956)


During the first generation,computers were with vacuum tubes. vacuum tube is an electronic tube is made of glass used as computer components to store and process data. The problems of vacuum tube are generates lots of heat that can damage computer and tubes can burnt out frequently. ENIAC is the first generation computer that contains weights of 30 tons,18000 vacuum tubes,30-50 foot space and 16000 watts of powder. Advantages of computers in this era: The using of vacuum tubes that can store and process data.

THE SECOND GENERATION (1956-1963)


The invention of Transistors marked the start of the second generation. These transistors took place of the vacuum tubes used in the first generation computers. First large scale machines were made using these technologies to meet the requirements of atomic energy laboratories. One of the other benefits to the programming group was that the second generation replaced Machine language with the assembly language. Even though complex in itself Assemly language was much easier than the binary code.

Second generation computers also started showing the characteristics of modern day computers with utilities such as printers, disk storage and operating systems. Many financial information was processed using these computers.

In Second Generation computers, the instructions(program) could be stored inside the computer's memory. High-level languages such as COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) and FORTRAN (Formula Translator) were used, and they are still used for some applications nowdays.

THE THIRD GENERATION (1964-1971)


Although transistors were great deal of improvement over the vacuum tubes, they generated heat and damaged the sensitive areas of the computer. The Intergreated Circuit(IC) was invented in 1958 by Jack Kilby. It combined electronic components onto a small silicon disc, made from quartz. More advancement made possible the fitings of even more components on a small chip or a semi conductor. Also in third generation computers, the operating systems allowed the machines to run many different applications. These applications were monitored and coordinated by the computer's memory.

THE FOURTH GENERATION (1971-PRESENT)


The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer—from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Appleintroduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors.As these small computers became more powerful,they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIS,the mouse and handheld devices.

                             

THE FIFTH GENERATION

Fifth generation computing devices,based on artificial intelligence, are still in development,though there are some applications, such as voice recognition,that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.

DEFINITION OF ICT

Definition ICT

ICTs stand for information and communication technologies and are defined, for the purposes of this primer, as a “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information.” These technologies include computers, the Internet, broadcasting technologies (radio and television), and telephony.

SMK STAR PUTRA

Sekolah ini terletak di lot 5269 dan Lot 5298 dalam Mukim Sabak Bernam. Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan. dengan keluasan 12 ekar. Jarak dari Pekan Sabak Bernam kira-kira 1 Km.  0.75 Km ke selatan Sungai Bernam. 35 Km dari Bandar Teluk Intan Perak. 110 Km dari Bandar Klang. 145 Km dari Ibu Kota Kuala Lumpur .Terletak di tepi Jln Kalabakan iaitu utama Klang-Teluk Intan. Pendidikan aliran Inggeris dan pembinaan sekolah telah bermula pada pertengahan tahun 1951 di atas tanah yang diwakafkan oleh Dato’ Tan Boon Chong, dengan pemilihan pelajar pelopor seramai 63 orang (33 orang murid Melayu dan 30 orang murid Cina). Pada 7 November 1954, Raja Tun Uda (Menteri Besar Selangor) telah merasmikan sekolah Inggeris pertama, diberi nama Sekolah Rendah Inggeris Sabak Bernam. Pada tahun 1955, seramai 33 orang pelajar (gambar kecil) terpilih setelah berjaya dalam peperiksaan masuk ke sekolah menengah dan menjadi pelopor pelajar yang meneruskan pembelajaran di Sekolah Menengah Inggeris. Sekolah Menengah Inggeris Sabak Bernam telah bermula pada awal tahun  1956, namun masih menumpang di bangunan Sekolah Rendah Inggeris dengan ditadbirkan oleh seorang Guru Besar sehingga tahun 1959. Menjelang tahun 1960, pentadbirannya telah dipisahkan dan pelajarnya dipindahkan ke bangunan yang baru iaitu Sekolah Khir Johari (Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Khir Johari kini.

Bermula dengan 33 orang pelajar, sekolah ini telah mengalami evolusi pertambahan pelajar yang ketara. Pada tahun 1960 seramai 247 orang, 1962 seramai 383 orang seterusnya meningkat kepada 727 orang pelajar pada tahun 1968. Pada tahun 1966, para pelajarnya pula berpindah ke bangunan baru dengan nama Sekolah Lanjutan Jalan Feri (kini SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra .