The Human Problem The biggest problem in any system designed to keep data secure is the human problem. The classic example of the human problem is one with which all IT professionals are familiar: the password written on the Post-It note on the side of the monitor. Security is, as we all know, only as good as the people who use it. What's needed is a system that works regardless of the human problem. There are four common issues that any system designed to be used by human beings has to come to terms with: Human error - people make mistakes, no matter how they try. With all the training in the world, and with the best of intentions, we're only human. Incompetence - sometimes we do the wrong thing because we just don't know what the right thing is. As systems become more and more complex it's easily to do something that seems reasonable, even though it's not. Laziness - sometimes people drop the ball. Doing things properly can be hard. Other pressures get to people and encourage the taking of short-cuts. Malice - the worst of them all. No-one wants to face the prospect of a malicious employee (or ex-employee), but it happens regularly. Many organisations have lost millions as a result of the actions of disaffected staff. The most sophisticated technology will fail in the face of these problems, and most technology vendors simply shrug the issue off: "Well, the system would have worked if it had been used properly..." But for those who need the security, this is of little comfort. Splitlock(tm) solves exactly this problem.