Tag Archives: education

Could A One Time Password Already Be Securing Your Industry?

Technology affects every aspect of our life, especially our security. Luckily there is always new technology being created to help keep our lives more secure. As our lives become digitized it seems that more and more sensitive information is being added to databases connected to networks or accessible from the web. This raises a red flag to anyone who has been affected by identity theft or fraud. With all of our personal data being stored in so many places it would seem that we more vulnerable to malicious attacks than ever. However this is not true, as technology begins to change the way we interact and share information it is also changing the way we secure our data.

Two- factor authentication utilizing a one-time password is technology that has been around for decades although the need for such security has risen lately. With many industries going paperless and wireless it opens the gate for hackers to siphon private data. Industries such as education, financial services and healthcare are all in need of higher security since they deal with important information that must be kept confidential.

OTP in Education

The education industry has been utilizing electronic records for a long time to manage students. These records are stored on a computer that is connected to a network for administrative use, the very same network that students are accessing from their laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Even on a password secured network these records are vulnerable since you do not need to be extremely computer savvy to use a key logger. Any student could simple attach a device to their teachers computer or install malicious software that operates discreetly behind the scenes to log keystrokes. Potentially stealing their teacher’s login credentials and gaining access to confidential information.

Any agency collecting, maintaining and storing sensitive information is responsible for managing that data responsibly as stated in “The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act” also known as FERPA. With security being their government appointed responsibility and malicious attacks becoming easier to perform, many education agencies are securing their confidential information with two-factor authentication through a one-time password.

OTP for Financial Services

Identity fraud is most apparent in the financial services industry for a good reason, it deals directly with money. Just like everything technology has affected the way we bank with online banking being offered by almost every bank. However this poses a threat to client identities. To keep account holders secure a one-time password is used to keep online banking customers safe by authenticating a user when they log in from different IP addresses. Two-factor authentication is also used to identify an account holder at almost every point of transaction through a bank card and PIN.

OTP in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is facing many changes in the future from regulations demanding increased security of patient’s confidential information. With more sensitive data being readily available over the internet for physicians the need to secure that information is extremely critical. Authorization to access a patient’s medical record is crucial and a one-time password provides that security by identifying the physician, issuing the OTP and allowing a single sign on. Even on mobile devices such as laptops and tablets, zero footprint security can allow access to records without leaving any data on the device.

Transmitting data securely is the future of security in almost every industry. Info is power and with almost every industry moving over to wireless interaction between tablets, laptops and smartphones hackers are using technology against us to gain power. Securing that information through two-factor authentication and one-time password services is the future of technology in order to protect the same users it was put in place to help.

Could A One Time Password Already Be Securing Your Industry?

Technology affects every aspect of our life, especially our security. Luckily there is always new technology being created to help keep our lives more secure. As our lives become digitized it seems that more and more sensitive information is being added to databases connected to networks or accessible from the web. This raises a red flag to anyone who has been affected by identity theft or fraud. With all of our personal data being stored in so many places it would seem that we more vulnerable to malicious attacks than ever. However this is not true, as technology begins to change the way we interact and share information it is also changing the way we secure our data.

Two- factor authentication utilizing a one-time password is technology that has been around for decades although the need for such security has risen lately. With many industries going paperless and wireless it opens the gate for hackers to siphon private data. Industries such as education, financial services and healthcare are all in need of higher security since they deal with important information that must be kept confidential.

OTP in Education

The education industry has been utilizing electronic records for a long time to manage students. These records are stored on a computer that is connected to a network for administrative use, the very same network that students are accessing from their laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Even on a password secured network these records are vulnerable since you do not need to be extremely computer savvy to use a key logger. Any student could simple attach a device to their teachers computer or install malicious software that operates discreetly behind the scenes to log keystrokes. Potentially stealing their teacher’s login credentials and gaining access to confidential information.

Any agency collecting, maintaining and storing sensitive information is responsible for managing that data responsibly as stated in “The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act” also known as FERPA. With security being their government appointed responsibility and malicious attacks becoming easier to perform, many education agencies are securing their confidential information with two-factor authentication through a one-time password.

OTP for Financial Services

Identity fraud is most apparent in the financial services industry for a good reason, it deals directly with money. Just like everything technology has affected the way we bank with online banking being offered by almost every bank. However this poses a threat to client identities. To keep account holders secure a one-time password is used to keep online banking customers safe by authenticating a user when they log in from different IP addresses. Two-factor authentication is also used to identify an account holder at almost every point of transaction through a bank card and PIN.

OTP in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is facing many changes in the future from regulations demanding increased security of patient’s confidential information. With more sensitive data being readily available over the internet for physicians the need to secure that information is extremely critical. Authorization to access a patient’s medical record is crucial and a one-time password provides that security by identifying the physician, issuing the OTP and allowing a single sign on. Even on mobile devices such as laptops and tablets, zero footprint security can allow access to records without leaving any data on the device.

Transmitting data securely is the future of security in almost every industry. Info is power and with almost every industry moving over to wireless interaction between tablets, laptops and smartphones hackers are using technology against us to gain power. Securing that information through two-factor authentication and one-time password services is the future of technology in order to protect the same users it was put in place to help.

Finding a Job as a Self-Taught Coder

During my time as being a teacher of the Java computer programming language I’ve read or heard one question many times with out fail: “Can I get a career as a self-taught programmer?”. In a word:

YES! Here is why:

Fewer Organizations Need Post-Secondary Education

I did a research for Java programming jobs on indeed.com and inside the second job that was posted, they specified that post-secondary wasn’t needed. A certificate in computer programming was all that was required. This emerging trend is a very good one for almost any programmers that are self-taught, and if you might ask me, it makes a lot of sense. Presently, businesses in North America are struggling to search for talented computer programmers and can not fill open programming jobs. I actually know this from first hand knowledge as I worked for a reputable company and was involved with the interviewing/hiring process. If the company just arbitrarily slaps around the mandatory condition that they require a post-secondary education, they’re neglecting a big pool of talent.

Nevertheless, most will debate that in that pool of talent, you can find both great and horrible computer programmers alike. This really is what they say post-secondary education is for, it’ll eliminate the terrible computer programmers… on the other hand I also recognize from first hand experience, that is not very true either. What’s definitely required of companies is really a good interview process as well as a system that will effectively assess the new workers throughout their first three months of employment.

The Business Path

Often individuals just believe that learning a computer programming language will most definitely benefit them by rewarding them with a Nine To Five job. Although this can be undoubtedly a great reward, it is only half the picture. Getting a nicely rounded skill-set as a developer opens up opportunities for you to make your own products and sell them. This idea is sometimes daunting to many people, but just take a look at my own story. I started learning regarding online business way back in July of 2012, and after only six months had passed, I had already start a blog site, written an ebook and built my first membership web site with actual paying clients. Things had been going well enough for me to even leave my day job and start pursuing this new passion full-time! Ever since then I haven’t looked back and am really happy with my work being an entrepreneur.

The lesson in this article, is that the information you acquire from understanding how to program by yourself can lead to places you never dreamed. Everything required is hard work, as well as the right kind of online education.