| A recent survey conducted by the United States | | | | security positions within the field will become harder to |
| Department of Justice indicates that identity theft is | | | | fill in the upcoming years. As IT security is a constantly |
| indeed on the rise. Affecting millions of households in | | | | evolving milieu, the need for well trained, competent |
| the U.S each year, identity theft costs have now | | | | systems management professionals is likely to extend |
| soared well above $6 billion per year. The study | | | | into other sectors of information security as well. Not |
| confirms that roughly three percent of all U.S. | | | | only are individuals at risk, institutions have also lost |
| households experienced some sort of ID theft during | | | | millions of dollars due to inadequate information security |
| the first half of the calendar year 2004. While this | | | | protocols. |
| particular method of illegally obtaining personal | | | | For those seeking a career opportunity, database |
| information for the purpose of financial gain only | | | | security may represent one of the safest bets for |
| accounts for a percentage of the total losses resulting | | | | future job security. According to the United States |
| from identity theft, it represents an undermining of the | | | | Department of Labor, "Employment (for computer |
| online banking systems that many financial institutions | | | | security specialists) is expected to increase much |
| have undertaken great expense to implement. | | | | faster than the average as organizations continue to |
| Countering the surge in identity theft, many banking | | | | adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies". While |
| firms and other lenders are relying on an influx of | | | | the future technologies implemented to effectively |
| recent and future graduates of IT security degree | | | | counter identity theft are unknown at this time, the |
| programs to spearhead efforts to thwart would be | | | | need for qualified security personnel is an almost |
| offenders who seek to commit criminal activity through | | | | certainty. In a world where cyber crime is steadily |
| electronic means. Whether the supply of IT security | | | | rising, one can only hope that the professionals needed |
| professionals is able to meet the current and future | | | | to design and implement advanced security measures |
| demands of the marketplace, however, is unknown. | | | | needed to combat identity theft will be available to |
| With identity theft and other data loss concerns | | | | protect the resources of consumers and institutions |
| becoming more commonplace in the information | | | | alike. |
| technology sector, an increased likelihood exists that | | | | |