Careers in IT security remain hot, says David Foote, noted researcher and analyst of IT workforce trends. But there's a disconnect between current job opportunities and the talent pool looking to fill them.

The future worth of payments will not rely so much on tangible currency, but more on digital value and data. And that means a stronger need for security and data management.

Facial recognition technology could prove to be an effective way to authenticate individuals seeking entry to secured buildings or databases storing sensitive information. But the biometric technology already is being abused, and IT security managers employing facial recognition should be careful to encrypt the biometric data, cautions a privacy rights leader.

In many states, the top information security officer champions IT security rather than dictates it, as the decisions of specific steps to take to safeguard digital assets are left to departments, agencies and commissions.

Fraud is a global concern, and an area regulators and financial institutions the world-over are watching closely, says Bill Isaac. Whether a cyberthreat or mortgage fraud, investments in fraud prevention will continue, despite the state of the international economy.

ICBA's Chris Lorence says all financial institutions, especially community banks, should appreciate the positive and negative effects posts on social-networking sites can have on their reputations.

Having complete documentation of every aspect of your privacy and security strategy is the best way to prepare for a HIPAA audit, says consultant Cliff Baker.

Former FDIC head Bill Isaac says U.S. banks have strengthened their financial footing since the market collapse of 2008, but the U.S. economy remains on the verge of a "double-dip" recession. The reason: poorly planned regulatory reforms.

Give a man a fish, you feed him for today, the proverb says. Teach a man to fish; and you feed him for a lifetime. That adage can be applied to information security, as well.

As banks and credit unions assess online risk, in light of the updated guidance from the FFIEC, financial fraud analyst Tom Wills says they should consider mobile as a viable layer for out-of-band authentication.