		Network Security

Maintain PHYSICAL Security

Physical Security is your first line of defence. A system that is not physically secure is not worth securing logically...

Lock the File Servers and Hosts away
Keep Wiring Closets and Risers locked
Minimise the number of external connections to your network
Ensure external connections are protected
Disable unused cable runs where possible

Lock the File Servers and Hosts away

If your File Server is physically accessible, anyone wanting your data won’t bother hacking into the system, they’ll merely take the machine or the hard disk away to work on at their leisure!

Keep Wiring Closets and Risers locked

How often have you seen a person (usually in a white jacket) working in the wiring closets of your building. It’s usually a Telstra linesman or an electrician. It could also be a hacker planting a tapping device of some sort...

Minimise the number of external connections to your network

Every connection is a possible route for a hacker.

Ensure external connections are protected

Any connections from your system to the outside world should be protected by appropriate security gateways or firewalls.

Disable unused cable runs where possible

One very useful network tool is the LAN Analyser. It’s also a very good hacking tool as it allows the viewing and recording of ALL traffic on the network to which it is attached. So, the connection of foreign (mobile) systems to your cabling should also be restricted.