In a typical corporate environment, which of the following resources demands the highest level of security on the network?

A.
Purchasing

B.
Engineering

C.
Sales

D.
Accounting

Explanation:
Accounting information is highly confidential and crucial for a business.
Incorrect Answers:
A: Purchasing is usually an internal application, and would not have outside users accessing the system. However, outside vendors may be given access to the system, but the vendors are identified up front, so they can be controlled, if necessary.
B: Engineering applications would be an internal application, with few outside users. If there are outside users, these can be easily identified and controlled,
C: Sales require high security as well. However, accounting demands the highest level of security.
Note:
Sales will require the high security because using electronic sales, such as an e-commerce site, communicates with customers that will be accessing the sales application from outside the safe and confined corporate network. Many transactions may require the exchange of confidential information, including the customer’s credit card information. For these types of transactions, SET (Secure Electronic Transactions) using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is commonly used to provide a secure transaction. Most of the potential customers are unknown until they want to make a purchase, leaving little notice and little control over the customers who want to make a purchase.