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Total Security

 

Issues to consider:

Physical Security
    who has physical access to the computer?
    audit logging of all activities
    removable hard drives
       ZIP disks, JAZZ drives, etc.
       USB memory sticks - encrypt data in case of loss or theft
    backup tapes
       backup tape encryption
           host-based encryption, where the host (the server) performs the encryption
                •encryption before the data hits the wire by an encrypting PCI card, which authenticates to and
                receives keys from a key-management appliance on the same network.
                •data-encrypting backup software (i.e. Symantec, Legato Networker)
           standalone and inline appliances, where encryption happens in transit
                •all data passes through the applicance, and undergoes compression and encryption
           encryption at the tape drive, where the drive performs encryption as part of the recording process
                •devices such as the Sun StorageTek T10000 employ AES256 encryption
    ports - USB, parallel, SCSI, etc..



Network Control Policy / Network Node Validation
    posture - information is gathered on patch levels, software versions, running processes, etc.. before the mode is allowed
    to connect to the network
    identity - authentication
   Cisco calls it NAC = Network Admission Control
   Juniper calls it Secured and Assured Networking
   Symantec calls it NAC = Network-Access Control
   micro$oft calls it NAP = Nework-Access Protection


   if nodes don't meet requirements, they can be confined to a restricted VLAN or a call for human intervention can be made.


    posture
      posture ID requires analysis, locally with an agent or remotely using a scanning mechanism
   authentication
      which user is using the node
   authorization
      a ruleset then determines, based on the posture and authentication, what permissions to grant
      the authorization component must be able to communicate with infrastructure (i.e. switches, router, firewall) to permit or deny traffic flows


Inside - the chief security threats come from inside


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