What is information

Information comprises the meanings and interpretations which people place upon the facts, or data. The value of information springs from the ways it can be interpreted and applied to make products, to provide the services, and so on.

Many modern writers look at organizations in terms of the use they make of information. For instance, particularly successful model of business is based on the assets that a firm owns. Assets have traditionally meant the things which are tangible like money, plant, property, systems; but business analysts have increasingly recognized that information is itself an asset, crucial to adding value. But, there is a negative side too: the use of information in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors are increasingly the subject of legislation and regulation, in recognition of damage its misuse on individuals.

But why is it essential to secure information? And how the security of it should be managed? To begin thinking about these questions, think about the following statements about information:

According to Nigel Turnbull (in the year 2003), in today’s high technology environment, organizations are becoming dependent on their information systems. The public is more and more concerned about the proper use of the information, personal data particularly. The threats to information systems from the criminals and terrorists are growing. Several organizations will identify information as an area of their operation which is required to be protected as part of their system of internal control.

As Robert M Grant said (in the year 2000), Competitive advantage is dependent on superior access to information.Ronald Reagan (the year 1989) proposed that information is the oxygen of the modern age. This seeps through walls which are topped by barbed wire; it wafts across electrified borders.