Information security is an important consideration for any organization that depends on information systems to carry out its mission. The dramatic expansion in computer interconnectivity and the exponential increase in the use of the Internet are changing the way our government, the nation, and much of the world communicate and conduct business. However, without proper safeguards, the speed and accessibility that create the enormous benefits of the computer age may allow individuals and groups with malicious intentions to gain unauthorized access to systems and use this access to obtain sensitive information, commit fraud, disrupt operations, or launch attacks against other organizations' sites.