Industry watch Toolkit
Story: Police chief criticises ID cards scheme
benefits of decentralization
Not only is decentralization more secure from a physical point of view (a well decentralized network, like the Internet, is nearly impossible to take down) but from other points of view as well.
Budget wise a well designed decentralized solution cost a whole lot less, certainly in the long run.
Security wise there are more eyes watching, so less chance of (human) corruption. As well as abuse and misuse. Remember, information security is less about technical and much more about human wants, political needs, power abuse, greed, control, ignorance, blackmailing, misinformation, etc.
Information wise it's better to combine the best of various worlds together. Some data resides better in database X while other data is better handled in database Y. Some data is better maintained by organization X (security clearing, trainings, etc) then organization Y. Often it's better to have bits and pieces of meaningless data scattered all over the place and only allow it to become meaningful information under certain circumstances and conditions. Usually a more time proof solution as well.
As such the question is more about connecting the dots then trying to convert and centralize all sorts of data in some big pile of "one size fits all" that can only make sales persons, control freaks, spreadsheet managers and wannabees happy.
Also take into account the "computer is always right" syndrome. Typos, data entry errors, misinterpretations, deliberate false data, etc can devastate people, ruin careers, destroy social bands and what not just because someone reacts to what's displayed on the screen in front of them. Having incorrect data about you in one database of the hundreds of databases you're already in is one thing. Now picture having incorrect data about you in the master database that overwrites all others. Wow, you better stay friends with the ones that control that database. Because once the system says you're bad or suspect guess how you'll be treated from thereon.
Oh right, those that have nothing to hide need not to hide anything. Sure, until some overworked police officer misfiles a criminal report. Or a tax inspector makes a typo. Or some primary school teacher enters a psychological report into your school records and 10 years later the university rejects your student seat for reasons untold. To name but a few examples.
People don't understand that once entered data will follow them for a lifetime. Do you know the who, why, what, when and where about the data that concerns you and your children? Might people be involved in that process? Are people without fault each and every time? Maybe mean well but don't have a real clue about what they're causing? All criminals say they didn't do it. And the computer is always right.
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