Security the Big Issue of 2002

“Security. Cost cutting. Security. Saving money. Security.” That’s what one editor noted when we polled staffers to identify the major themes of CIO’s coverage this year. CIOs invested a huge chunk of their energy and time in managing costs and protecting their systems and employees against security breaches. When you consider the year’s other important themes?business continuity, systems integration and an examination of the CIO’s ethical responsibilities in an era of scandal and malfeasance?it’s clear that 2002 was devoted less to trying out new stuff than to making what the enterprise already had work better and more safely. Looking back, this is the continuing story that we wrote about and put on our covers. February 15

Return on Security Investment

In the past, CIOs attempted to justify IT security spending by trying to scare the pants off their board members with chilling anecdotes. Now they can use hard numbers (developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon, MIT and the University of Idaho) to show the ROI on their security investments. This ability could even lead to the development of a market for hacking insurance, with discounts offered for good security systems. April 15

Budget Basics: Penny Pinching All-Stars

A slowing economy led us to look for IT budgeting wisdom from CIOs at companies with low profit margins. Their advice: Invest only in projects linked to business goals with ROI due in three to six months. Check administrative and infrastructure costs for wasted dollars. And just say no to software upgrades. July 1

Ethics: Take the Pledge

With pressure from the business to monetize customer data, the CIO today walks a razor’s edge. Say yes to sales and marketing, and open oneself up to questions about the ethical use of such data; say no and be the bad guy who cuts off potential revenue streams. Our community of CIO readers proposes six ethical commandments to help CIOs navigate this minefield. September 1

Disaster Recovery: Staying Power

Three CIOs who led business recovery efforts at their companies near Ground Zero represented Wall Street’s comeback (at least in IT terms). All built up their business continuity programs?whether that meant moving into a new office building, equipping workers with wireless technologies or distributing IT assets geographically. A year after 9/11, they’re back in business with lessons for their peers. October 15

IT Procurement: Good Stuff Cheap

The technology bubble went Pop! and now there’s so much used hardware lying around?and so much emphasis on cost-cutting?that secondary market hardware is now a mainstream business. For CIOs, that spells operational savings, even if it means buying maintenance contracts in the emerging third-party market. December 1, 2002

Homeland Security

Defending the United States from terrorist attacks requires the federal government’s biggest reorganization since World War II. The proposed Department of Homeland Security demands the integration of hundreds of information systems at 22 agencies with offices around the globe and organizational cultures that many believe just won’t meld. Who’s going to make it work? The CIOs, of course. At least, they’re going to try.