Organizational information is intellectual capital. Just as organizations protect their assets - keeping their money in an insured bank or providing a safe working environment for employees - they must also protect their intellectual capital. An organization’s intellectual capital includes everything from its patents to its transactional and analytical information. With security breaches on the rise and computer hackers everywhere, an organization must put in place strong security measures to survive.

All businesses must understand the importance of information security, even if it is not enforceable by law. Information security is a broad term encompassing the protection of information from accidental or intentional misuse by persons inside or outside an organization.