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Issue #5, 2009
In this issue. .
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Message from the Partners |
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Tips on How to
Circumvent IT |
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Client Spotlight - Decatur
County Memorial Hospital |
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Do You Know Where Those Laptops
Have Been? |
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Do You Know Where Those Laptops
Have Been?
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The rise of mobile devices and
public wireless web access has
increased workers' productivity
exponentially. But there's a
dark side to the trend: the
increased security risks that
come with linking to unprotected
public networks.
Dirty Deeds
The chain of events that leads
to a security breach often
begins innocently enough, when a
mobile worker finds a convenient
wireless network at an airport
or bookstore. The trouble
doesn't start until the worker's
laptop picks up a virus, worm,
remote control application or
other malicious code while
attached to the public
connection. As soon as the
worker returns to the office and
plugs into his or her corporate
network, the intruder can spread
and replicate itself, leaving
the enterprise vulnerable to
damage, data loss and outright
theft. Typical security
measures, which are aimed at
keeping unauthorized users out
of the network, do nothing to
prevent such a scenario from
occurring.
"A username and password aren't
enough anymore," says Kevin
Hallmark, a security specialist.
"Companies need to make sure
every device accessing the
network is clean and
uncompromised."
Hallmark recommends installing
antivirus and firewall programs
on all laptops and desktops as
the first line of defense.
However, he cautions that
companies should not let their
employees stop there. Because
many mobile users turn their
computers' security features off
when they're on the road, or
never enable them at all, an
enterprise's network
administrator must take
additional measures to enforce
compliance with the company's
security policy. The most
efficient way to do this is
through network admission
control (NAC), a new industry
initiative sponsored by Cisco
Systems and supported by a range
of security software
manufacturers, including
Computer Associates, IBM,
McAfee, Symantec and Trend
Micro.
Read more
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Message from the Partners
Hello! First of all, it’s been an
exciting quarter at Emerge. We’ve not
only partnered with additional
customers, but we’ve also added
additional talent to our team in service
delivery and account management. We look
forward to sharing the positive results
these additions will have in our
organization. A few weeks ago, we
sponsored a successful technology fair
with one of our strategic partners, TW
Telecommunications. This event provided
value to both our current client base as
well as many other organizations that
were able to attend – it was a fun time
too! Of course, our success would not be
possible without your support, WE THANK
YOU!
Over the next few months, we will be
focusing our newsletters on security
solution-based technologies. With all of
the different technologies that are
incorporated into your business, there
are many ways that the bad guys can
cause you pain. We will take a look at
case studies, highlight specific
technology needs and solutions, and
share industry best practices around
securing your information and electronic
assets. If you see something out there,
or hear about a security technology that
you don’t quite understand – give us a
call and ask us your questions. Remember
- we are here for you! |
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Did The Wall Street Journal sabotage
businesses by
publishing tips on how to circumvent IT?
TechRepublic's Jason Hiner characterizes
the The Wall Street Journal's tips for
circumventing IT as dangerous and
irresponsible and says that many of them
could have very negative consequences
for businesses, IT departments, and
users.
Tech Sanity Check
by Jason Hiner, Executive Editor
Date: August 3rd, 2007
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In the Monday, July 30 edition of The
Wall Street Journal, there was a special
section on technology that led with the
article "Ten Things Your IT Department
Won't Tell You" by Vauhini Vara. If you
haven't read the article, you should
take a look because some of your users
may have have already seen it, and as a
result they may be engaging in
activities that put themselves and your
IT department at risk.
Here is the list of the 10 items in
Vara's article:
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How to send giant files
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How to use software that your
company won't let you download
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How to visit the Web sites your
company blocks
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How to clear your tracks on your
work laptop
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How to search for your work
documents from home
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How to store work files online
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How to keep your privacy when using
Web email
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How to access your work email
remotely when your company won't
spring for a BlackBerry
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How to access your personal email on
your BlackBerry
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How to look like you're working
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Vara breaks down each item into four
sections — The Problem, The Trick,
The Risk, and How to Stay Safe.
Read More |
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Client Spotlight - Decatur County
Memorial Hospital
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Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH)
is a Critical Access Hospital located in
Greensburg, Indiana. Recent advances in
medicine and strides in technology have
been providing local communities access
to better healthcare, and it is the
desire of DCMH to provide the best care
in their region.
One critical aspect of their mission is
the security of patient data. Government
regulations and an increasingly
determined corp of hackers have caused
DCMH to make this issue one of their top
priorities.
Under consideration was the purchase and
installation of a Cisco Adaptive
Security Appliance (ASA) with an
Intrusion Prevention System. With its
solid firewall, advanced application
security capabilities, market-leading
intrusion prevention and antiworm
capabilities, the Cisco ASA 5500 would
provide the robust and stable policy
enforcement necessary to guard their
network.
The product itself is superior, but the
success of the product in protecting
information and infrastructure relies
completely on proper implementation.
That is why DCMH engaged Emerge IT
Solutions. Through work on previous
projects, they knew that Emerge had the
experience and skill required to make
sure that this type technology was
implemented correctly. |
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Just for Laughs |
Quote of the
Month |
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Buy land.
They've stopped making it.
~
Mark Twain |
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