Introduction
Information systems (IS) are an integral part of the business world. Many organizations, especially online companies, today rely on IS in their operations. For instance, Amazon uses information systems in e-commerce to collect and store customers’ records. Such data is highly sensitive, thus raising the need to safeguard it against unauthorized persons. Firms wishing to adopt and maintain information systems should ensure that the platform is secured from internal and external threats.
One of the methods utilized in protecting information systems is authentication. Under this technique, individuals must identify themselves before accessing data (Bourgeois, 2016). Various forms of identification can be used, including biometrics and passwords. To achieve maximum security, organizations adopt multi-factor authentication (Bourgeois, 2016). The complexity of the process makes it difficult for users to compromise the system.
Encryptions and firewalls are also highly utilized in safeguarding information systems. Encryptions are used in data exchange to enhance confidentiality in message transmission (Bourgeois, 2016). Firms that rely on encryptions restrict data access to individuals possessing decrypting keys. On the other hand, firewalls protect an information system against external attacks, such as hacking and virus attacks (Bourgeois, 2016). Although these techniques may prove effective, firms should always assess the presence of drawbacks to ensure that their systems are safe.
Similarities and Differences Between Structured Data, Unstructured Data, and Big Data
Data is an important asset in every company. The information helps managers and other stakeholders understand business processes and make timely changes when needed. Different categories of data that firms can use in their operations include structured, unstructured, and big data. Each serves a different purpose in the organization. Employees should understand the similarities and differences between each data type to determine areas in which they can be applied.
Structured, unstructured, and big data are similarly important within a business. They are used to facilitate critical corporal functions and decisions. However, firms generate these types of data at different rates. A study conducted in 2011 indicated that structured and unstructured data accounted for 23.7% and 61.8% of organizational records, respectively (Eberendu, 2016). An increase in the availability of big data was also noted during the research. The findings show that these data types are equally essential in every industry.
The three categories of data differ in structure and scalability. As the name suggests, big data is voluminous and comprises the other two sets of data (Eberendu, 2016). Unstructured data “has no particular structure and may be stored as emails, texts, and images” (Eberendu, 2016, p. 48). On the other hand, structured data is highly organized with a definite format, which can be interpreted easily (Eberendu, 2016). The data can be presented in the form of tables and charts. Regardless of their variances, these types of data are used to generate vital information in the organization.
Similarities and Differences Between Hardware and Software
Hardware and software are essential devices in modernized businesses that ensure tasks are properly performed in computerized systems. More often, these components operate interdependently. Therefore, compatibility is a crucial factor that determines functionality. Although hardware and software may appear similar in their use, they are distinct in several criteria.
The two devices are ontologically different. The hardware is a physical device, while the software is a set of instructions that facilitate the execution of tasks on a computer (Duncan, 2017). Besides, the hardware can run different systems, while the software requires frequent modification to perform the intended task (Duncan, 2017). However, one component cannot function effectively without the other, an aspect that makes them equally important.
References
Bourgeois, D. (2016). Information systems for business and beyond. Scotts Valley: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Eberendu, A. (2016). Structured data: An overview of the data of big data. International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science, 38(1), 46-50.
Duncan, W. (2017). Ontological distinction between hardware and software. Applied Ontology, 12(1), 1-28.