Re: Perhaps the most OBVIOUS question you will ever see.

From: Roger Abell (mvpNOSpam_at_asu.edu)
Date: 01/28/05 

Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:22:36 -0700

Being a bit flippant just now, but why not suggest that, if they are
so sure of their "beliefs", you just post the address of the parking
lot here. I am sure there are some within driving distance reading
the newsgroups.

Let's see, your industry - it has confidential client info? it has
trade secrets? it has government imposed data privacy/security
regulations? it has a revenue stream that depends on uptime?

Those are some of the things in the vault.

Now, you are asking us, how can I explain without explaining,
to the boss' boss, that having those things in the vault is not all
that good if no one shuts the door and spins the tumbler enough.

That's what you are asking? 

-- 
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows  Security)
MCSE (W2k3,W2k,Nt4)  MCDBA
"Curious George" <curious@spampoop.com> wrote in message
news:99hKd.1635$Vt6.340@fe10.lga...
> Dear Colleagues:
>
> For the life of me I don't know why I have to ask this question since the
> answer is so obvious, however, I need to have others tell me that I am not
> completely insane.
>
> I work at a place where we have a myriad of wireless access points and NO,
I
> am not writing from there at present.
>
> NONE of the wireless access points has any form of security on them
> whatsoever.  No WEP, no CHAP. . . no nothing.  Everything is open so you
> could walk into our joint, grab an IP address and surf the web to your
> heart's content.
>
> Here is the problem.  My boss insists that its "no big deal" and that
since
> the servers are on the inside and protected, we really don't have a thing
to
> worry about.  Furthermore, my boss is under the impression that since we
are
> situated in a wide area, that nobody would be able to get into our network
> because of this distance.  Needless to say, my boss does not consider
> somebody sneaking into a parking lot with a laptop, a good network card
and
> a directional bazooka antenna a possibility.
>
> So here is what I have to explain to my boss' boss and, perhaps, the board
> of directors. . . and here is where I can't help but laugh.  I hope that I
> will be able to keep a straight face come Monday when I have to explain
> myself to people why its important.
>
> Okay, so I know the analogies.  For example, I understand that not having
a
> secure wireless network with many Waps and high gain transmission antennas
> is the same as putting cables out to anybody within 'x' amount of yards
with
> a sign that says "free internet access", but since I am going to be asked
> these obvious questions, just what type of damage could somebody do?
>
> Yeah, I know about denial of service attacks, yeah I also know about
> enumeration and password guessing, but considering that we have an SQL
> server on the inside of our network (no, the sa account password is not
> null) what are we talking about.
>
> I can envision so many things.  Like somebody just sitting there caputring
> packets to get things like usernames, passwords and the like, but come on.
.
> . what else could they do.
>
> I have read my boss the riot act many times, but this is now going to go
in
> front of somebody over my boss' head, so, aside from giving them worst
case
> scenarios, end of the world analogies, etc., how else could people break
in.
>
> Creative responses are appreciated and will be rewarded with much praise.
>
> I can't believe that I have to actually explain this to people, and this
> entire thing would last about two seconds when it comes to talking with a
> computer professional, but you see, my boss is under the impression that
> they are a computer professional because they received a Master's degree
in
> Comp Sci back in the 80's.  I know that this line of thinking is
dangerous,
> but I really want some creative answers to put my point across strongly,
and
> yet professionally.
>
> Although I realize that this post will likely be the *** of many jokes
> (which I will appreciate immensely) I never the less would appreciate a
bit
> of useful information in your responses.
>
> I am going to have a serious drink now, and then bang my head against the
> wall.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> CC
>
>