| In the UK financial sector, information | | | | security issues are benefiting greatly from |
| technology has become the backbone. | | | | the concern over identity theft. IT security |
| Information technology, or IT, has emerged as | | | | jobs in the financial sector, not to mention |
| such an important part to any financial | | | | other sectors, have become more important |
| service provider's success because of the | | | | over the last five years. Essentially, IT |
| need for information. Banks need to maintain | | | | security professionals assess the needs of |
| updated information on their client's | | | | their employer and determine the best course |
| accounts in order to keep their business and | | | | of action to ensure long term security. |
| help them function on a daily basis. | | | | Simple solutions, like keyword protection and |
| Financial advisors need to have the latest | | | | virus scans, are not so simple when they are |
| information on interest rates, accounts, and | | | | multiplied by hundreds of computers. IT |
| other factors which may affect their advice | | | | security professionals who take financial |
| to clients. In the end, IT networks have | | | | sector positions need to realise the issues |
| become the single most powerful determinant | | | | that arise regularly in their job. |
| of a firm's success or failure in finance. | | | | |
| | | | IT security threats are constantly changing, |
| A vigourous IT network is not immune to the | | | | with new viruses emerging daily to replace |
| problems of the outside world. Networks can | | | | ones that were eliminated by network |
| be hacked into or connected to malicious | | | | security. IT professionals need to be on top |
| networks, which may be used to steal | | | | of these new threats before they happen, a |
| information or funds. IT security in the | | | | tricky proposition for even the best worker. |
| financial sector is crucial for a company | | | | However, security workers in the financial |
| that wants to maintain the highest standard | | | | sector also need to consider the business |
| of service to their customer. After all, it | | | | aspect of their profession. IT departments in |
| makes little sense to spend hundreds of | | | | general, and security specifically, does not |
| thousands of pounds on new equipment only to | | | | have an endless amount of funds to fight |
| have it broken into due to poor security. | | | | short and long term problems. While financial |
| Identity theft and viruses alike can harm a | | | | service firms are investing more heavily in |
| firm's efficiency and their trust in the | | | | IT security than ever before, it is still |
| community. | | | | limited when compared to other departments. |
| | | | As such, IT security workers need to balance |
| IT professionals who have an interest in | | | | good solutions with budgetary concerns. |