About Us | Contact Us
View Cart

Increasing Complexity Threatens Software Stability

By Vigilize | Friday, November 17, 2017 - Leave a Comment

As lines of code continue to replace humans and physical devices, quality control is essential…and often overlooked.


An article review.


ServIcons_ITAudit_01

Looking back over the last decade or two it is easy to see how computers have changed physically as they shrank in size, spreading to our pockets and beyond, but another change was going on beneath the surface. As computers grew in processing power the software that ran on them has increased in complexity to take advantage of that power, and a recent article submitted to us by our friend Wes Pollard of Home Bank describes some of the problems that additional complexity may cause.

One of the biggest problems lies in testing: unlike physical objects which can be tested in practically all the conditions it which it will be used, it is extremely difficult if not impossible to foresee all the different ways a piece of software will be interacted with. From the hardware it will be running on, the other applications running on that system and even how the end user behaves there can be a potentially infinite combination of elements at work…and when a failure does occur, it can be very difficult to track down.

There may also be more code out there than you realize, as many of the things you use daily have been enhanced while you weren’t paying attention. The accelerator in your car behaves the same as it always has, but if it’s a recent model it likely has no physical connection to the engine, instead sending a signal to the car’s engine management computer to be interpreted by software. Changing a battery used to be a job one could do in a few minutes in their driveway, now it can require a trip to the dealership to reset the car’s battery management system. And unlike with many computers, the software running in your car can go without seeing updates for the entire life of the vehicle, though automotive recalls involving a reflash of the computer are becoming a common experience.

Going forward it is hard to see society deciding that they’re comfortable enough, so it’s reasonable to believe that software will continue to be involved in our day to day life. Without a focus on quality, though, that involvement might become increasingly negative.


Original article by James Somers writing for The Atlantic.


same_strip_012513


 

Latest News
    Artificial intelligence carries risk, but so does organic ignorance … Another one of those Dan’s New Leaf Posts, meant to inspire thought about IT Governance . . . . At a recent conference, I noticed two camps emerging in the debate over artificial intelligence. Some people embrace AI as a tool, while others support Elon […]
    PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BUSINESS NEWS NEW EMPLOYEE FOR INFOTEX We are pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Taylor as our new Network Administrator at infotex.  “We are very excited to have Nathan join our team as a Network Administrator and look forward to his contributions to maintaining and improving our infrastructure!” […]
    about artificial intelligence . . . And who will protect us from it . . .  Another one of those Dan’s New Leaf Posts, meant to inspire thought about IT Governance . . . . Just watched some press on the the Senate hearings over regulating AI. The normal senator faces, Sam Altman of OpenAI, […]
    The Evolution of an Inside Term Used in our Vendor Risk Report Another one of those Dan’s New Leaf Posts, meant to inspire thought about IT Governance . . . . Those who audit infotex know that our vendor risk report refers to a couple of our providers as “ransomware companies.” This reference started evolving […]
    Another awareness poster for YOUR customers (and users). Now that we have our own employees aware, maybe it’s time to start posting content for our customers! Check out posters.infotex.com for the whole collection! Download the large versions here: Awareness Poster (Portrait) Awareness Poster (Landscape) You are welcome to print out and distribute this around your […]
    New tools could allow unskilled attackers to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks… An article review. Imagine a world where you receive a call from your boss asking you to assist them with something… only it’s not your boss, but an AI being used by an attacker.  This isn’t science fiction, it’s an actual attack that has […]
    Unavailability Strikes Where it doesn’t matter anyway Another one of those Dan’s New Leaf Posts, meant to inspire thought about IT Governance . . . . So, I’m writing today’s article from a resort in the middle of Wisconsin.  I want to make sure I’m staying on top of my New Leaf, which is to […]
    . . . and the importance of segregated response. The latest edition of Executive Vice President, Michael Hartke’s article series! In 2007 when I first joined infotex, coming from small to medium sized business general IT support into the world of cybersecurity, the one thing that was very hard for me to internally rectify was […]
    How concerts can help us understand APTs . . . Especially if you use your imagination! Another one of those Dan’s New Leaf Posts, meant to inspire thought about IT Governance . . . . My daughter reminded me of a concert Stacey and I attended way back in 2013, in Chicago.  It was one […]
    Mutiny! The Malicious Insider Threat Webinar Registration A Webinar-Video It is often awkward to bring up the one attack vector most of us have not addressed. The malicious insider threat. Even if we can flaunt all statistics and claim that the likelihood of an insider attack is low in our bank, the impact is still […]