NCJ Number
121472
Journal
Security Management Volume: 33 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1989) Pages: 89-91
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Security against computer crime by company employees must address offender motivation expressed in the acronym MICE: money, ideology, compromise, and ego.
Abstract
A study of a number of computer security cases indicates that offenders are tempted by money, influenced by relationships and stress, and swayed by unhappiness at work. Regarding the processing of funds and the storing of sensitive or classified information, security managers must ensure that proper controls are in place and working. Little can be done about employees' relationships outside of work other than to caution them to exercise care in contacts with individuals of questionable background. Security measures that are often ignored, however, are those that help employees deal with personal stress. When job performance is affected by stress, supervisors should have service options to recommend, notably an employee assistance program. Security managers should be acquainted with such programs and how effective they are in helping employees resolve personal problems. It is also important for companies to review internal environmental factors that may contribute to employee hostility and unhappiness. This involves assessing the work environment, reward systems, level of interpersonal trust, level of ethics, stress level (performance pressure), and level of internal controls.