Supporting-Technology Design Considerations

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Content
• Load Balancing
• Wireless LANs
• IP Telephony

You know how it always is, every new idea, it takes a generation or two until it becomes obvious that there's no real problem. I cannot define the real problem, but I'm not sure there's no real problem.

Richard Feynman, "Simulating Physics with Computers," International Journal of Theoretical Physics, 1982

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.

Richard Feynman, report of space shuttle Challenger disaster, 1986

In this chapter, you will learn security design considerations for a wide range of technologies such as content, load balancing, wireless LAN (WLAN), and IP telephony. Content refers primarily to caching but also includes content distribution networks (CDN). The load-balancing section covers security considerations around load-balancing services and load-balancing security technology (such as firewalls). WLAN and IP telephony are self-explanatory.

Most of the technologies here are immature either from a technology standpoint or from a security standpoint. As such, this chapter is light on configuration specifics because many of these specifics and features will change in the short term. Instead, this chapter focuses on general design considerations for deploying the technology, which you can then leverage to evaluate the specific security features available at the time.