Building Secure and Reliable Systems

Conclusion

We wrote this book because we believe there is a significant overlap in the technologies and practices that protect systems and keep them reliable, and that organizations should integrate the concepts of security and reliability throughout the process of designing, implementing, and maintaining systems. Whereas traditionally they have been treated as separate disciplines, our view is that security and reliability are inherent properties of a system, and they are therefore the responsibility of everyone involved in the project lifecycle. Many technology shifts are well underway that we believe will inspire organizations to take this view.

This technology revolution—what some have deemed the Fourth Industrial Revolution—is altering the world as we know it. This shift is being felt not only by consumers, in the form of more sophisticated products, but also by the developers who are producing these products. Organizations are increasingly reliant on technology, even if it’s not the core of their business. For example, we’re seeing systems that let surgeons perform surgery on patients located on the opposite side of the world. Scientists are using autonomous flying vehicles to survey archaeological sites, study the effects of soil erosion, and protect endangered species. Robots are being deployed to perform dangerous work in space and at nuclear disaster sites.

The expanding connectedness of technology means we are growing more dependent on the reliability of those solutions. ...