Computer Science Having Read Newman\'s Chapter 1,

Computer Science

Having read Newman's Chapter 1, would you consider the security requirements across all environments to be the same?

Not all security requirements are the same in all network environments. Some systems are more vulnerable to the threat of viruses that permanently infiltrate the network's hardware, other to worms that do not permanently damage the hardware but cause programs to 'crash' through such tricks as forcing programs to infinitely reboot themselves. Certain systems, of which Microsoft and Oracle are good examples, excel at modifying or blocking with firewalls certain systemic vulnerabilities after hackers have found ways to broach these problems, and fixing the problem after the fact, but are not nearly as good at detecting holes prior to such exposure

Do you think SLAs will solve our security problem? Discuss why or why not.

Service Level Agreement, otherwise known as an SLA details the responsibilities of an Informational Technology (IT) services provider and its users, as well as the penalties assessed when the service provider violates any element of the SLA. An SLA also identifies and defines the service offering, the supported products, evaluation criteria, and quality of service that customers should expect.

Enterprises that use outsourced services often make use of SLAs. If the two partners have a mutual interest in obeying the agreement, SLAs can be useful. Systems that make use of frame relays also have the additional knowledge that the Frame Relay Forum released a 'Service Level Definitions Implementation Agreement' to define acceptable parameters for frame relay service, so frame relay providers could assure customers of their ability to deliver credible service. (Carr, 2004) However, SLAs, although useful, are no panacea, given the speed at which hackers have been able to infiltrate systems, and the fact that many hackers have no such mutual industry or legal interest in upholding agreements. Only between legitimate partners, and preferably partners that operate with outside guidelines and authorities to hem in any excesses or potential violations, are SLAs a foolproof solution.