Sony Play Station Security Breach

It is almost impossible to find the top reasons why most security breaches happen on a secure network compromising hundreds to thousands of users' personal information. This happens today more often than one would like to think and the consequences are astronomical for users, employees and customers of the companies. To protect a network and thoroughly secure confidential information, one has to examine the top vulnerabilities and think outside of the normal box to protect the network. When a security breach happens, there is usually a pretty simple reason why it has happened. This paper will discuss one of the highly publicized security breaches to happen in years, the Sony PlayStation Network & Qriocity music and video service that occurred early this year. There will be a discussion on the actual breach that occurred, what caused the breach and how this could have been prevented, and finally, how Sony plans to recover from this monumental loss of confidential data it caused its customers.

On April 27, 2011 more than 70 million customers of Sony's PlayStation Network and Qriocity music service received a disturbing email saying that everything the company knew about them including where they live, when they were born, their logins and passwords, and possibly more information had been hacked into. From a statement made by Sony, "If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained." (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/arts/video-games/sony-playstation-security-flaw-tests-consumer-trust.html). Imagine the shock and awe of users when they received this notification. This security breach is one of many that Americans fear on a daily basis.

On May 2, 1011, a week later, a second security breach occurred on a different Sony network. The Sony Online Entertainment Networks was targeted and compromised 24.6 million users. Of that number, 12.3 million had their credit card information stolen.

Finally a third incident happened involving the loss of 2,500 user's names and addresses which was determined to have be a leak from the electronics division of Sony. (www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-to[.pag?docid=233020589). A total of three security breaches in three weeks amounted in over 100 million users having their personal information stolen makes customers' faith in Sony grow to an all time low.

Millions of customers are asking how this could have happened and what is Sony doing to recover from this. There are many issues that could have led to Sony's breach in security which include:

* Deploying the right security products - IT security today has a wide range of technologies that are aimed specifically at lowering risks and threats.

* Coping with business growth and expansion - While companies are acquiring others at a rapid rate of speed to drive growth for businesses, these companies are letting their information management