Lesson 1: Assets

Concerns with Software Assets:Stability Issues

Take a moment to consider the difference between hardware and software. Hardware is tangible; it has parts that can wear out or be broken and replaced, whereas software is not subject to these same constraints. Software is an intangible asset, a piece of code. Software has no moving parts that can lead to breakdown—and yet, software does, at some point in its lifespan, often become unstable.

Software often becomes unstable because it was not built solidly to begin with or it has been modified. Throughout the lifespan of a piece of software, changes are made that cause deterioration or defects. This can obviously be a major information security problem, because the software products traditionally must be reengineered in order to avoid the problem.

However, there are a few things that can be done in order to mitigate the problems mentioned above. Before we learn about these different strategies, read the case study below and answer the questions at the end of the case. When you are done, click "Next."