We depend heavily on the proper functioning and availability of our information, communications, and data processing systems, including operating and financial reporting systems, in operating our business. Our operating system is critical in meeting customer expectations, effectively tracking, maintaining and operating our equipment, directing and compensating our employees, and interfacing with our financial reporting system. Our financial reporting system receives, processes, controls and reports information for operating our business and for tabulation into our financial statements.
While we are not aware of a breach that has resulted in significant lost productivity or exposure of sensitive information to date, we are aware that our systems are targeted by various viruses and cyber-attacks and expect these efforts to continue. Our systems and those of our technology and communications providers are vulnerable to interruptions caused by natural disasters, power loss, telecommunication and internet failures, cyber-attack, and other events beyond our control. Accordingly, information security and the continued development and enhancement of the controls and processes designed to protect our systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority for us and we maintain information security processes and policies to protect our systems and data from cyber security events and threats.
Although we have processes, policies and procedures in place and our information systems are protected through physical and software security as well as redundant backup systems, they remain susceptible to cyber-security risks. Some of our software systems are utilized by third parties who provide outsourced processing services which may increase the risk of a cyber-security incident.
A successful cyber-attack or catastrophic natural disaster could significantly affect our operating and financial systems and could temporarily disrupt our ability to provide required services to our customers and impact our ability to manage our operations and perform vital financial processes, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business. In addition, regulatory and enforcement focus on data protection in the U.S. and failure to comply with applicable U.S. data protection regulations or other data protection standards may expose us to litigation, fines, sanctions or other penalties, which could harm our reputation and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
With the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence ("AI") technology, cyber-attacks have become increasingly sophisticated. While we have modified our security policy both to educate and to place appropriate guardrails around our users' ability to use such technology in order to safeguard our system, we cannot guarantee that these efforts will be successful in preventing a successful cyber-attack or the exposure of our proprietary information. In addition, we rely on our third-party business partners who provide security services to continually enhance their detection and mitigation capabilities to better support our operation, and we conduct analysis regarding third party systems and their use of AI technology to limit potential exposures to security risks. However, we cannot guarantee that our third-party business partners will not experience security issues due to AI that could have an impact on our operations. A breach in our security systems, whether due to the use of AI technology or not, could harm our reputation and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.