...Assessment Introduction In the war zone that is the modern Internet, manually reviewing each networked system for security flaws is no longer feasible. Operating systems, applications, and network protocols have grown so complex over the last decade that it takes a dedicated security administrator to keep even a relatively small network shielded from attack. Each technical advance brings wave after wave of security holes. A new protocol might result in dozens of actual implementations, each of which could contain exploitable programming errors. Logic errors, vendor-installed backdoors, and default configurations plague everything from modern operating systems to the simplest print server.Yesterday’s viruses seem positively tame compared to the highly optimized Internet worms that continuously assault every system attached to the global Internet. To combat these attacks, a network administrator needs the appropriate tools and knowledge to identify vulnerable systems and resolve their security problems before they can be exploited. One of the most powerful tools available today is the vulnerability assessment, and this chapter describes what it is, what it can provide you, and why you should be performing them as often as possible. Following this is an analysis of the different types of solutions available, the advantages of each, and the actual steps used by most tools during the assessment process.The next section describes two distinct approaches used by the...
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...Enterprise network across the world are always looking for the easiest ways to manage their networks with a more automated process that can assist network administrators with troubleshooting and maintaining these networks. As a whole network management tools are a huge benefit to these networks and consist of five essential categories that are a must have across the board. The standard is called FCAPS which stands for: Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security. Fault management is one of the most essential parts of a network management tool. The purpose of the Fault Management tool is to find and repair any faults that occur within a network. It has the ability to alert to critical alerts and monitor various servers within the network. This management tool continuously checks CCM servers, unity/exchange servers as well as ensuring that they are backed up completely. Fault management also provides an overview or topology of the network to show what is running smoothly and where active faults are occurring. Configuration is essentially the way that the management software and devices are setup. Configuration will ensure that the network administrators get the alerts they want to see, setup auto fault alerts and ensuring that they can be automatically repaired if possible. Configuration is an essential part of a network management tool and allows customization for network administrators to operate the tools the way they need to for the company needs...
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...The Tools of Network Security Name Date Class Professor School Introduction Network security can be hard in the environment of constantly changing technology. Strong protection does not have one simple solution. Anyone who is concerned with the protection of their computer, data, or network needs to be ready to spend time researching their specific needs to protect all the different layers and domains that can be attacked. The areas that need the most attention are port scanning, protocol analysis, vulnerability tests, intrusion prevention, firewall use, VPN security, internet filtering, and password recovery. Users need to become proactive when it comes to their network’s security by knowing what tools are the best for the job and being able to implement these tools quickly and correctly. Port Scanning Port scanning and IP scanning is an important step towards network security. A port scanner checks for available virtual ports on your network and can identify if they are open or closed. Finding out which ports are open allows network administrators to take appropriate protective actions by closing or blocking traffic to and from those open (Network Security Tools, 2013). Nmap is the major tool of choice for most network administrators. It is an affordable choice because it is a free open source tool. Nmap supports most operating systems and comes in wither a traditional command line interface or GUI version (Nmap, 2013). Nmap works by using raw IP packets...
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...component of AD FS hosts the claims-aware agent and the Windows token-based agent components that manage authentication cookies sent to web server applications. The Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services server role is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol directory service. It provides data storage and retrieval for directory-enabled applications, without the dependencies that are required for Active Directory Domain Services. Active Directory Certificate Services provides customizable services for issuing and managing public key infrastructure (PKI) certificates used in software security systems that employ public key technologies. The digital certificates that AD CS provides can be used to encrypt and digitally sign electronic documents and messages. These digital certificates can be used for authentication of computer, user, or device accounts on a network. Digital certificates are used to provide: Confidentiality through encryption, Integrity through digital signatures, and Authentication by associating...
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...Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. This White Paper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means...
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..."the opposite of hacking." If hacking is defined as an attack on a computer system, then Anti-Hacking is the protection of that system. The three aspects discussed in this paper: Education of the Security Adminis trator, Securing the Environment, and How to Fight Back are just one combined definition of how to protect a system. Copyright SANS Institute Author Retains Full Rights AD © SANS Institute 2003, Author retains full rights Key fingerprint = AF19 FA27 2F94 998D FDB5 DE3D F8B5 06E4 A169 4E46 Key fingerprint = AF19 FA27 2F94 998D FDB5 DE3D F8B5 06E4 A169 4E46 © SANS Institute 2003, As part of the Information Security Reading Room. Author retains full rights. Anti-Hacking: The Protection of Computers Chadd Schlotter In the Computer Security industry, there are many solutions available to help combat cyber crime. Firewalls and Intrusion Detection systems are in place across the Internet to help protect more networks than ever before. Teams at software corporations work diligently on creating patches for known vulnerabilities, yet everyday the number of computers that are compromised increases. It seems like almost every week a big Internet or software company has a security incident, so what does this say about the Computer Security industry? Even with the software available to defend the networks of companies, it takes more than that. The education of the security administrators is the key to using those software packages correctly. Anti-Hacking is a topic...
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...activities, such as port scans and ping sweeps, which can lead to intrusion of systems of a company or network, which enables the intruders to gain access to the systems and do changes in the settings or extract important information. These activities can be detected and stopped or prevented using special skills tool set. INTRODUCTION One of the most common disreputable computer activities are ping sweeps and port scans. They lead to breach of systems by intruders which can harm the whole system or network protocols. There are millions of entities around the world that utilize the internet and the problem is that, many are unaware of the threats and vulnerabilities that are lurking around. These probes can be detected and prevented for to be in a safe position rather than compromise. Ping Sweep and Port Scans Events Two methods that are used to attack a network is ping sweep and port scans. These activities can be used with malicious intent against, as well as, in effort to try to protect a network. Ping sweeps and port scans has been a notorious and yet a useful tool for hackers and system administrators. Ping sweeps and port scans at times can be a bother to both system administrators and network managers. Ping sweeps and port scans work together and can be dangerous but it also can be prevented. A ping sweep, also known as an internet control message protocol sweep (ICMP) is a basic network scanning technique used to determine the range of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses...
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...Basic Components of Network Management Systems Matthew D. Miller DeVry University A network management system is a system that is made up of hardware and software, whose job it is to manage the communications, software, and computer hardware of a network (Hill Associates, 2008). There are many different tools and components that help to make up a network management system. Some of these tools include trouble ticket systems, help desk systems, alarm correlation, maintenance tools, etc (Hill Associates, 2008). Along with all these tools there are four basic components that a network management system consists of. They are the agent, network management station, network management protocol, and the management information (Hill Associates, 2008). As mentioned before a network management system has many tools available to use. Trouble ticket systems are used to manage and keep track of any and all issues relating to the network (OTRS Team, 2012). A very useful feature of trouble ticket systems is that they save and archive the tickets with all pertinent information like who was involved, the problem and any notes or solutions (OTRS Team, 2012). In case a particular event occurs again the help desk team has a reference to look to for assistance. With any kind of machine or system, maintenance must take place in order for it to perform to its full potential. Software and hardware updates are essential for the smooth running of a network (TWD & Associates, Inc., 2012)...
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...Seymour Security Authentication Process Like most people who are computer users, you do not simply turn on your computer and start accessing programs. There are systems put in place by the user, or the administrator of the network to ensure that the properly authorized people gain access to their information. Specific profiles are created to differentiate amongst the users that allow each unique user to create, delete, and print or any other process they have access to. The process needs to be thoroughly planned out, and there also has to be a determination how whether it will be managed locally, or by third party software. This management of access controls actually comes in four different steps. The steps are: Identification, Authentication, Authorization, and finally, Accountability. No administrator worth his salt will incorporate any sort of security authentication process without these four basic steps. A properly configure authentication process will protect your network from such threats as password cracking tools, brute force attacks, the abuse of system rights and outright impersonation of authenticated users. Identification is the first of the four steps of the security process. Anyone that wishes to gain access to a system is referred to as a supplicant, and the tool that they use to gain entry to the system is referred to as an Identifier. This identifier can be a myriad of different references to uniquely identify the supplicant. The identifier should be able to...
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...Fort SEC 280 Professor Dau July 15, 2012 Ping Sweeps and Port Scans With computer networks becoming larger hackers are looking more and more for ways to illegally gain access to our networks and procure information about our customers that they can use for their gain. Some tools that hackers are using are called ping sweeps and port scans. Now in the hands of Network Administrators these tools are not something to be afraid of, but in the hands of hackers they are something to be aware of because they have the ability to provide relevant information to a potential attacker. Ping sweeps and port scans will probably be the first steps of the attack because they provide the potential attacker a lot about our network as well as services, and open ports, on a computer system or our network. Ping sweep would be the first tool an attacker would take when he chooses to target our company’s computer systems. It is made up of a series of ICMP echo requests sent to a range of IP addresses to determine which IPs are in use by a host. A ping sweep is a valuable tool that can provide an attacker with a network map of all devices on the network, including hosts, routers, and other networked devices. With this information an attacker can establish an attack plan on network servers and hosts or can be used just to clog up the network. With the appropriate firewall in place protecting the network from pings outside of the LAN, then we can eliminate these types of ping sweeps. However...
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...only. Information subject to change at any time without prior notice. This whitepaper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Microsoft, Active Directory, PowerShell, SharePoint, SoftGrid, Windows, Windows Media, the Windows logo, Windows Vista, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Table of Contents Table of Contents ii Introduction 1 Make Your Infrastructure More Efficient with Virtualization 1 Server Virtualization with Hyper-V 2 Presentation Virtualization with TS RemoteApp 3 Access Corporate Networks Remotely with Terminal Services 4 Terminal Services Gateway 4 Terminal Services Web Access 5 Single Sign-On 5 Hosting Secure Web Applications with Ease 6 Introduction 6 Built on a Proven and Trusted Platform 6 An Industrial Strength Web Server 7 Optimize by Running Only What You Need 7...
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...network Network topology—This is usually done in the form of a diagram that shows the major network nodes, such as routers, switches, firewalls, and servers, and how they are all interconnected. Normally, printers and workstations are not included. Server information—This is all of the information on servers that you will need to manage or administer them, such as name, functions, IP address, disk configuration, OS and service pack, date and place of purchase, warranty, and so forth. Router and switch port assignments—This includes detailed information on WAN configuration, VLANs, or even the assignment of a port to a network node via the patch panel. Configuration of network services—Network services, such as DNS, WINS, DHCP, and RAS, are critical to the operation of the network. You should describe in detail how they are structured. Although it would be possible to derive that information by inspecting the servers, the point is to save that time by having it documented in an easy-to-decipher format. Domain policies and profiles—You can restrict the capabilities of network users with the Policy Editor in Windows NT or with Group Policies in Windows 2000. You can also create roaming profiles that are stored on a server rather than on local machines. This kind of configuration, if used, should be documented. Mission-critical applications—You must document how these are maintained, as well as what typically goes wrong with them and how you resolve problems...
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...08 Fall SOLARWINDS: NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VALENTINO ALAN LLEREZA De Vry UNIVERSITY In today’s world, the growth of computer technology has impacted and enhanced the way we communicate with each other and even the way we live. Many companies use this technology to create some type of computer network to be able to get information to and from each other during an ordinary day. As the computer network grows, the requirement for a network administrator increased. The network administrator is tasked with the management and responsibility of keeping the network healthy, at all times. This is accomplished through managing the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that pertain to the operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning of networked systems(Clemm, 2007). To assist the network administrator, the use of network management system such as the Solarwinds Network Management System helps reduce operational cost while offering a secure and stable network that is crucial to all businesses. It does matter whether you’re a huge corporation or a small business, many computer network issues are unavoidable. The use of Solarwinds Network Management System presents various applications to maintain the simplicity of network management and is the complete package. The management software makes it easy to discover and map network devices, monitor network performance, analyze network traffic, manage and back up network configurations, track IP addresses...
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...decisions. ii. Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service designed for use with directory-enabled applications. A directory-enabled application is one that uses a directory, as opposed to a database or flat file, for its data store. iii. Active Directory Certificate Services is an Identity and Access Control security technology that provides customizable services for creating and managing public key certificates used in software security systems that employ public key technologies. iv. Active Directory Rights Management Services is an information protection technology that works with AD RMS–enabled applications to help safeguard digital information from unauthorized use. Content owners can define who can open, modify, print, forward, or take other actions with the information. 2. Explain Server Manager, the new role-based management tool for Windows Server 2008, and describe the tools it was...
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...Zenmap Specs * Supported Operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD * Cost: Free * Requirements: Nmap Who’s it for? Zenmap is for any network or security administrator who needs to keep a constant check on their network topology. With it’s next-to-zero learning curve, just about any network administrator can have all of the information they need quickly. Zenmap will work for any size company or even a single-user consultancy, where a quick scan of a network topology can make the difference between spotting a security issue and finding a resolution or, well…not. What problem does it solve? There are two very key issues Zenmap solves. One is making the more-challenging Nmap scanner useable for the average administrator. Nmap is a console-only tool and the majority of administrators do not want to spend their day at the console (with a nod to the old-school Linux and UNIX admins who would much rather spend their day at the command line than in a GUI tool). Zenmap also gives the administrator a topology mapping tool where they can actually see an interactive, animated visualization of the hosts on your network. Key features * Free * Easy-to-use GUI * Quickly saves scans * Uses traceroute and ping * Saves profiles for frequent run tests * Topology mapping * Compares scan results of different scans * Runs multiple scans and views them as one big scan * Plenty of default scan profiles to choose from * Searches scan results...
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