September 2003 — Special Feature
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Securing Your Computer Network
System Audits
Computer systems should be audited annually to determine vulnerabilities, and technology budgets should include funds for this purpose. An audit should include regularly examining the state of the firewall, the servers and the computers. In addition, make sure that all components are properly configured and that the latest virus protection programs and software patches are in place. The use of intrusion-detection software is a must as well.
Remember that since budgeting constraints usually make investing in network security a low priority, this is not a reflection on the quality of your technology staff. Think of it as money spent on something you can't really see and don't know that you need until it's too late. Also, keep in mind that it's inappropriate to ask a school to audit itself. "Hiring a qualified security specialist to perform a formal security audit is the only way to specifically get a top-to-bottom assessment of your network's security weaknesses and needs" (Rist 2000).
Reference
Rist, O. 2000. "A Case for a Network Security Audit." InternetWeek. 13 Nov.
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