Managing Insecurity: Practitioner Reflections on Social Costs of Security

Nonprofits and local government have experienced more than their share of breaches and notifications over the past several years. The reasons for this are evident: lots of sensitive information, insufficient IT resources, lack of institutional discipline, etc. Clearly more time and resources at these organizations should be dedicated to security.

I discuss whether even identifying the proper balance is a good deal more difficult for public service organizations than has been widely discussed. Will security concerns affect the adoption of electronic medical records, regional health organizations, and nonprofit work? At what point do needed changes in organizational cultures undermine the public mission? What types of security controls and practices are best suited for service agencies? What kinds of research would most help public services?