Physical Security
20 April, 2008
For years—and particularly over the last few months—you've heard us bang on about "security".
Why? Because without a doubt, the safety of data is an important issue to any company.
We have always talked about strong passwords—changing passwords often, two factor authentication—and protecting networks from threats such as viruses and hackers. Rarely though do stop to consider the physical security of our computers.
Physical security is more than just making sure the doors to your office are locked. In some cases this is not always possible.
Consider the building complex made up of a number of suites, all accessible from the street via a lift. How many of these suites have you visited and found the front door locked?
One of our clients no more then 3 weeks ago had 2 laptops stolen from their offices when an interloper saw an opportunity to grab them. Now, a laptop lock may not stop a prepared person, but it will defiantly slow those with ill-intent down or take away that moment of opportunity altogether.
Is the door to your server room locked? If you have a computer rack, does it have locks and are they locked? Are your backup tapes/drives kept in a different area to your server?
It is very easy for someone to take all your backup tapes while removing a server if they are within reach. What about the risk of an unhappy staff member taking a backup tape?
It can be a heck of a task to restore a working server from tape; but considering the fact it doesn't take a lot of work to restore raw data that could be used by a competitor, or someone starting up a business in competition, these are real risks that need to be avoided!!
Physical security is quite probably the easiest type of safekeeping to implement - the hardest part is thwarting human nature's tendency towards laziness. It's easy to get into habits like leaving server room doors unlocked because we're in and out of the room often. But it is not really best practice.Here is our short list for improving your physical security:
- For your laptop, install a cable lock. This is a high strength steel cable that locks into the side/back of your laptop and then bolts to the desk or a wall.
- Lock your server room door, so only people that need access have access. At the end of the day, your server has the most information about your company.
- Keep backup tapes in a different area to the servers - a locked drawer or filing cabinet is best so they are not in plain sight.
What? Use Company Software at Home!!
7 March, 2008
Now, we'll freely admit, Software Licensing is not the sort of topic you'd spend your free time Googling. In fact you might choose to paint a wall for the simple pleasure of watching it dry over doing so!
But here are three little words that can make Licensing more exciting - Home Use Rights.
That's Correct has explored briefly (Jan '08) the different types of Licensing that Microsoft have on offer. OEM Licensing is probably the most common licensing, simply because for the most part people are prepared to pay for it and it serves its purpose; it is also dead easy to understand... OEM Licensing is a seemingly low cost solution enabling you to install a full version of Microsoft product on a single machine at the time of purchase.
It is not without its limitations though. Once it is time to update the machine, a new license has to be purchased. Essentially you need to keep purchasing OEM software over and over again each time you refresh your fleet. If you have few PCs in the office and you upgrade only when absolutely necessary, this is not such a problem.
If you have a larger fleet however and like to keep up to date, this continual purchasing cycle can quickly become costly. It is also difficult to track how many licenses you have and when software versions are upgraded it can leave you a little in the lurch.So what are your options if this last category fits you?
Open Licensing is Microsoft's answer for companies who are looking to streamline their licensing purchases and consolidate all their licensing into one program.
There are plenty of different Open Programs on offer, but the two that we deal with most frequently are Open Business and Open Value. They fit the SMB market space really well and can offer advantages over simply rolling out OEM licenses on each PC in the fleet.
Why go Open? Very quickly here are some reasons you might consider moving to an Open Licensing program.
Open licensing gives you the right to run previous software versions, for example access to downgrade rights for previous versions of Office. It also gives you access to free version upgrades if Software Assurance (Microsoft's maintenance program) is activated.It makes it easy to manage licensing and confidently stay compliant, in addition to being able to transfer licenses from old to new machines when refreshing fleets. Being able to view licensing information online also helps with management and traceability, but by far the coolest thing about Open Licensing is that if you have an Open Value program with Software Assurance attached to it, you can take advantage of Microsoft's Home Use Rights.
What this means is that companies with active Software Assurance for qualifying desktop applications, such as the Office suite, can allow their employees who are using a license at work to acquire a license free for home use as well!
To find out more about Open Licensing or Home Use Rights, call us on 02 8831 8200.Where's Colin?
7 March, 2008
Back in our May newsletter we reported on Colin's apparent disappearance from the local scene, due to works being carried out with a shipping company. Well he is still alive and well, busily rolling out SBS 2003 networks onto the cargo vessels. Here's his story…
Recently I had to roll out another SBS 2003 network onto a vessel, this rollout was a little different in that it was necessary to sail with her due to the minimal time she spent in port. I will explain; this vessel does a shuttle service transporting mainly containers between Melbourne and Bell Bay, Tasmania.
Once the vessel has arrived in Melbourne and is safely moored, the wharf becomes an orchestrated hive of activity, unloading and loading of containers, completed all within approximately 6 to 7 hours. Then the vessel is out an under way with an average of 16 hours of sailing time to Bell Bay, where the whole process of unloading/loading is conducted again, before getting underway again back to Melbourne.
This is a constant day after day, week after week process...and they say that trucks are the back bone of cargo movement in Australia!
The
trip was fairly smooth sailing, considering some of the weather that
Bass Strait can throw up! The first night did have me rolling around a
little in bed, and having a shower is a whole new experience. The working hours were flexible and with the crew making me feel more than welcome, it seemed to make the trip 'fly' along and in no time we were back in Melbourne.
Watching the Master maneuver the vessel around and then reverse parking gently into the wharf was a sight to behold.Colin Amos
Senior Technician
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