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Network Security Assessment, 2nd Edition
book

Network Security Assessment, 2nd Edition

by Chris McNab
November 2007
Intermediate to advanced
504 pages
13h 21m
English
O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Content preview from Network Security Assessment, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1. Network Security Assessment

This chapter discusses the rationale behind Internet-based network security assessment and penetration testing at a high level. To retain complete control over your networks and data, you must take a proactive approach to security, an approach that starts with assessment to identify and categorize your risks. Network security assessment is an integral part of any security life cycle.

The Business Benefits

From a commercial standpoint, information assurance is a business enabler. As a security consultant, I have helped a number of clients in the retail sector secure their 802.11 wireless networks used in stores. By designing and implementing secure networks, these retailers can lower their costs and increase efficacy, by implementing queue-busting technologies, for example.

Shortcomings in network security and user adherence to security policy often allow Internet-based attackers to locate and compromise networks. High-profile examples of companies that have fallen victim to such determined attackers in recent times include:

RSA Security (http://www.2600.com/hacked_pages/2000/02/www.rsa.com/)
OpenBSD (http://lists.jammed.com/incidents/2002/08/0000.html)
NASDAQ (http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,21762,00.html)
Playboy Enterprises (http://www.vnunet.com/news/1127004)
Cryptologic (http://lists.jammed.com/isn/2001/09/0042.html)

These compromises came about in similar ways, involving large losses in some cases. Cryptologic is an online casino gaming ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780596510305Errata Page