Auditing is the process of tracking users and their actions on the network. Learning the concepts of proper auditing will be a valuable asset. The types of activities that can be audited include the following:
Auditing should be built around security goals and policies. Effective planning and well-defined structure must be a part of an audit policy for it to work properly. You should not monitor everything; otherwise , you will stress system resources, fill up the hard drive and log files, and never be able to weed through the mounds of data that has accumulated . Therefore, monitor what is really important. If you aren't sure what is important, many recommendations can be found on the Internet. Microsoft has an area devoted to securing its operating systems that also contains auditing information. In the end, auditing should be a policy determined to meet the specific needs of the company. Here are the steps to take when initiating an audit policy:
Along with auditing, establish a baseline of normal activity. Then the network behavior can be monitored against the baseline. As you begin to understand the patterns of your users and the network, it will be much easier to identify odd or suspicious behaviors. System ScanningScanning is a process used to probe ports. Scanning programs keep track of those ports that are receptive listeners, and they also analyze weaknesses. Many vulnerability scanners are available for download on the Internet. These tools can be extremely useful in determining how vulnerable your network is. However, you should not try these tools without an administrator's permission. The following list names some of the most commonly used tools:
Although network administrators can find these tools very useful, there can be serious consequences for using them in a malicious way. These days, the members of the Board of Directors can be held responsible should data be compromised. For example, you work for a financial institution. You do business with other financial institutions. The help desk employees use PCAnywhere to help users resolve issues. Last week you hired a new technician. Yesterday, you found out that one of the companies you do business with has called about some odd behavior on its network. You find out that the new technician has been running a utility and scanning all the networks of the clients he has dialed into since he started. You, your company, and the Board of Directors can be held responsible for his actions. |