Analysis of Ethical Issues in Information Technology Security

This report delves into the critical ethical issues within IT security, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct for IT professionals. The author discusses the responsibilities of an IT systems administrator, including maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism. The report highlights the potential risks associated with neglecting ethical standards and the significance of competence and adherence to legal and professional codes of conduct. Furthermore, the report explores ethical solutions that benefit society, such as allowing public participation in establishing ethical guidelines and educating the public on their rights. The conclusion underscores the dynamic nature of ethical issues in IT security, which vary across organizations, and stresses the importance of unwavering commitment to ethical principles for the success of both clients and organizations. The report also includes references to relevant literature and codes of ethics.

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Running head: ETHICAL ISSUES FOR IT SECURITY
ETHICAL ISSUES FOR IT SECURITY
Name:
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ETHICAL ISSUES FOR IT SECURITY
Abstract
It is important to value ethics for professional or any personnel dealing with information in a
company or any corporate client. The ethics are mostly placed to ensure that information is
secure and passed on in ways of trust and that are acceptable to them. Professionals must always
uphold these ethical issues and accept them positively by reviewing their advantages and
evaluating their usefulness in satisfaction of clients’ needs for information security. Many people
assigned the duties rarely uphold the ethical issues probably due to lack of full importance of
them. Failure to uphold the issues may cause risks and immense loss. This paper explores the
potential ethical security issues in IT security for the client in question.

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ETHICAL ISSUES FOR IT SECURITY
Discussion
If I were the one doing the network configuration, I would refuse to do the job due to the
risk involved afterwards. I would not play part in configuring a very insecure network knowing
well future repercussions. Below is a discussion as to why I should refuse the job:
As an IT systems administrator, I must commit myself to being responsible in ensuring
that the computing environment remains safe, productive and healthy. This is accomplished by
making sure I make decisions and choices consistently and accepting honest criticism.
When it comes to IT security, privacy is critical since administrators often have access to
most of the information even when it is encrypted. It is important for me to commit myself to
maintain the confidentiality of any information I access and to only access information when it is
necessary (Bynum & Rogerson, Septermber 11, 2003).
Integrity is maintained when the administrator remains honest in all their work, identify
mistakes and offer assistance when required. This will help to avoid conflicts of interest and
biasness and offer assistance void of bias and conflicts.
It is also a socially important issue to maintain professionalism in IT Systems
administration eliminating any aspects of unfairness due to personal feeling or beliefs. Any user
or client who needs assistance should be offered professionally with no regard to personal
interests.
The administrator commits to continue growing their skills and knowledge and continue
to share them with others when needed. IT systems have gradually continued to grow and it is
significantly important to be updated.

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Ethical behaviors in accordance with professional codes
Confidential whereby administrators should normally practice confidentiality of the
highest order. A confidentiality agreement may be signed or not but the administrators’
confidentiality should not depend on the document.
I must be competent and not in any case misrepresenting my competence. It is also
important to understand that it is not wise to accept any work out of my expertise level or one
which goes against the set code of conduct.
IT security systems administrators must recognize all laws governing the way intellectual
right are used including copyrights and patents. All the property intellectually owned by
employers and clients should also be protected.
My knowledge and technical skills will only be used for the assigned duties and not for
misusing other peoples’ computers. This includes playing games on their machines without their
permission and disseminating computer viruses.
Ethical solutions for societal benefit
If the ethical and social issues set by the organizations are tightly upheld, the society is
among the beneficiaries (Plotkin, October 1, 2011). The society setting the ethical and social
issues helps maintain a moral course in case the organization has some turbulence.
It is important to allow the public to take part in setting up the social and ethical issues.
The society benefits if the ethical standards put in place due to societal factors are adhered to.
For instance, a society may not allow some images to be shared publicly from a user’s account, it
would be a societies’ benefit if the administrators do not share it.

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ETHICAL ISSUES FOR IT SECURITY
It is also better to educate the public on the importance of the issues to help them
understand their rights as per the social and ethical issues put in place. The public should be well
related with the law enforcement bodies for adequate protection of their rights.
Conclusion
Ethical and social issues are an important aspect of information security. There are
affected by many factors including the society’s behavior and therefore there are no set ethical
issues that govern all the IT security systems administrators. The ethical issues change from
organization to organization. The administrators must commit themselves fully to the set issues
for the success of the client or organization.

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References
Bynum, T. W., & Rogerson, S. (Septermber 11, 2003). Computer Ethics and Professional
Responsibility. Wiley-Blackwell.
Code of ethics. (2017, August 25). Retrieved from American Society for public administration:
www.aspanet.org/ASPA/About-ASPA/Code-of-Ethics
Committee, S. e. (2017, August 26). System ADministartors' code of ethics. Retrieved from
USENIX, the advanced computing systems association: www.usenix.org/system-
administration-code-ethics
Johnson, G. D. (Janauary 3, 2009). Computer Ethics. Pearson.
Plotkin, R. (October 1, 2011). Computer Ethics (Computers, Internet, And Society). Facts of File,
Inc.
Relkin, J. (2017, August 26). 10 ethical issues confronting IT manages. Retrieved from Tech
republic: www.techrepublic.com/article/10-ethical-issues-confronting-it-managers