Term Paper: Web Application Security Challenges
Due Week 10 and worth 200 points

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a written paper and a PowerPoint presentation. You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment it is written for.

You are the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for an e-Commerce company and are concerned about security for your e-Commerce applications. Specifically, your company’s Board of Directors has requested a detailed forward-looking plan with emphasis on securing your Web presence assets. Read the article titled, “Web application security is growing problem for enterprises” located at http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/web-application-security-growing-problem-enterprises-843?page=0,0. Also, be sure research at least four (4) other articles concerning the challenges of Web application security.  

Section 1: Written Paper

1. Write an eight to ten (8-10) page paper in which you:
   1. Summarize the current state of Web application security for your Board of Directors to understand. Determine any common themes that need to be addressed specific to the Web security.
   2. Describe the techniques and technologies you would use that you would implement to mitigate these security challenges and explain why you chose these techniques and technologies.
   3. Analyze the internal security procedures and practices you will use to validate the security of your enterprise’s Web applications.
   4. Represent your Board recommendations graphically using Visio or Dia. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
   5. Use at least four (4) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Section 1 of your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
• Include charts or diagrams created in Visio or Dia. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

Section 2: PowerPoint Presentation

1. Create a persuasive eight to ten (8-10) slide PowerPoint presentation (not including the cover slide) in which you:
   1. Detail your Board recommendations.
   2. Create bulleted speaking notes for your presentation to the executive board in the Notes section of the PowerPoint.Note: You may create or assume any fictitious names, data, or scenarios that have not been established in this assignment for a realistic flow of communication.
   3. Use a professional technically written style to graphically convey the information.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Analyze the role and importance of audit and compliance to Web application security.
• Explain the value and importance of vulnerability and security assessments for Web applications.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in securing Web-based applications.
• Write clearly and concisely about Web application security topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

I. An overall risk profile of the company based on current economic and industry issues that it may be facing. 

II. Current company cash flow

a. You need to complete a cash flow statement for the company using the direct method.

b. Once you’ve completed the cash flow statement, answer the following questions:

i. What does this statement of cash flow tell you about the sources and uses of the company?

ii. Is there anything ABC Company can do to improve the cash flow?

iii. Can this project be financed with current cash flow from the company? Why or why not?

iv. If the company needs additional financing beyond what ABC Company can provide internally (either now or sometime throughout the life of the project), how would you suggest the company obtain the additional financing, equity or corporate debt, and why?

III. Product cost: ABC Company believes that it has an additional 5,000 machine hours available in the current facility before it would need to expand. ABC Company uses machine hours to allocate the fixed factory overhead, and units sold to allocate the fixed sales expenses. ABC Company expects that it will take twice as long to produce the expansion product as it currently takes to produce its existing product.

a. What is the product cost for the expansion product?

b. By adding this new expansion product, it helps to absorb the fixed factory and sales expenses. How much cheaper does this expansion make the existing product?

c. Assuming ABC Company wants a 40% gross margin for the new product, what selling price should it set for the expansion product? 

d. Assuming the same sales mix of these two products, what are the contribution margins and break-even points by product?

IV. Potential investments to accelerate profit: ABC company has the option to purchase additional equipment that will cost about $42,000, and this new equipment will produce the following savings in factory overhead costs over the next five years: 

Year 1, $15,000

Year 2, $13,000

Year 3, $10,000

Year 4, $10,000

Year 5, $6,000

ABC Company uses the net-present-value method to analyze investments and desires a minimum rate of return of 12% on the equipment.

a. What is the net present value of the proposed investment ignore income taxes and depreciation?

b. Assuming a 5-year straight-line depreciation, how will this impact the factory’s fixed costs for each of the 5 years (and the implied product costs)? What about cash flow?

c. Considering the cash flow impact of the equipment as well as the time-value of money, would you recommend that ABC Company purchases the equipment? Why or why not? 

V. Conclusion:

a. What are the major risk factors that you see in this project?

b. As the controller and a management accountant, what is your responsibility to this project?

c. What do you recommend the CEO do?

Writing the Final Paper

1.    Must be six to eight double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

2.    Must include a title page with the following:

a.    Title of paper

b.    Student’s name

c.    Course name and number

d.    Instructor’s name

e.    Date submitted

3.    Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.

4.    Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.

5.    Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.

6.    Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

7.    Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Suppose that your great great grandmother put $50 in a savings account 180 years ago and the account is now worth $3,200. Use the rule of 70 to determine about what interest rate she earned