Good To Know

SPONSOR LINKS

Automate Your Email
Use autoresponders to automatically deliver sales information to customers

Small Business Guide on CD-ROM
Free small business guides & techniques

Your Logo on Anything
Personalize pens, bags, shirts, caps, golf balls, whatever

Wholesale Products For Your Business To Sell
Stock your store with thousands of products to choose from

Language Translation Service
Online language translating service

Cheap Ink Cartridges
Epson, Canon, Lexmark, and HP inkjet cartridges for 50%-80% off

Monday, December 17, 2001

Computer Security Day

by Dave Murphy 

Computer Security Day is an annual event started in 1998 by the Association for Computer Security Day. It's an event that reminds us to take time to tighten our workstation and network operations to prevent unauthorized use.

Here are a few dozen suggestions from the association that you can do to improve your computer security.

1. Display computer security posters.
2. Present computer security briefings.
3. Change your passwords.
4. Check for computer viruses.
5. Show computer security videos, films or slides.
6. Protect against static electricity.
7. Modify the logon message on your computer system to notify users that Computer Security Day is November 30.
8. Vacuum your computer and the immediate area.
9. Clean the heads on your disk drives or other magnetic media drives.
10. Back-up your data. (after being certain that it is virus-free.)
11. Delete unneeded files.
12. Initiate a computer security poster design contest for next year.
13. Demonstrate computer security software.
14. Publicize existing computer security policy.
15. Issue new and improved computer security policy
.
16. Declare an amnesty day for computer security violators who wish to reform.
17. Announce COMPUTER SECURITY DAY in your internal newsletter.
18. Examine the audit files on your computers.
19. Verify that the "Welcome" message that is normally used on your computer is appropriate for your organization.
20. Write-protect all diskettes that are not to be written to.
21. Take the write-protect rings out of the tapes in your library.
22. Verify your inventory of computer applications.
23. Verify your inventory of computer utilities and packaged software.
24. Verify your inventory of computer hardware.
25. Verify your inventory of data files.
26. Install and inspect power surge protection as appropriate.
27. Install fire/smoke detection and suppression equipment in computer areas.
28. Eliminate dust from computer areas, including chalk dust.
29. Provide dust and water covers for personal and larger computers.
30. Post "No Drinking" and "No Smoking" signs in computer areas.
31. Develop a recovery plan for all computer systems that require one.
32. Verify that passwords are not "Posted" and all other keys are secured.
33. Verify that backup power and air conditioning fit your needs.
34. Have a mini training session to provide all computer users with a basic understanding of computer security.
35. Verify that all source code is protected from unauthorized changes.
36. Verify that each computer has trouble log and that it is being used.
37. Verify that appropriate off site storage exists and is being used.
38. Remove all unnecessary items such as extra supplies, coat racks, and printouts from the computer room.
39. Select a computer system on which to perform a risk analysis.
40. Begin planning for next year's COMPUTER SECURITY DAY.
41. Change the FORMAT command in DOS to avoid accidentally FORMATing of disks.
42. Protect the computer on your store-and-forward phone message system.
43. Hold a discussion of ethics with computer users.
44. Volunteer to speak about computer security at a local computer club.
45. Collect Computer Security Day memorabilia to trade with others.
46. Register and pay for all commercial software that is used on your computer.
47. Register and pay for all shareware that you use regularly.
48. Install all security-related updates to your computer's operating system.
49. Help a computer novice backup their files.
50. Protect all cabin computers from floating droplets of liquid.
51. Plan to attend a computer security meeting or seminar.
52. Consider the privacy aspect of the data on your computer and protect it.
53. Update your anti-virus program.

Dave's Opinion

The free posters that are distributed by the association make great wall hangings. If nothing else, it's worth visiting the ACSD site to request a poster.

References

Association for Computer Security Day
http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/byte/8860/

Dave Murphy is founder and membership director of ITrain, the International Association of Information Technology Trainers. ITrain is the global professional society for IT trainers.
Full Author Profile -->