IT mini project

Project Instructions

You have been recently hired as a network security analyst for a small accounting firm. The firm realizes that it needs help to secure its network and customers' data. With your background and skills, the firm is looking to you to provide guidance. In addition to helping the firm secure its network, the firm requires that you obtain your CompTIA Security+ certification within 60 days of being hired.

In addition to the owner, who serves as the overall business manager, there are about 20 people on staff:

➢ 10 accountants

➢ 3 administrative support specialists

➢ 1 vice president

➢ 1 financial manager

➢ 2 interns

There is also one IT support technician on staff, who has basic computer hardware and networking knowledge. He has requested that the firm create a website, hosted internally, so that new customers can get information about the firm. This will be important to remember as you complete your final project.

The firm has a simple network. There are 20 computers and two multipurpose printers. All computers and printers are connected wirelessly to a NETGEAR MR814 device. This router is connected to a Motorola SB3100 cable modem. Staff email accounts are set up through the company’s Internet provider. Employees use a combination of Microsoft Outlook and standard web browsers to access their e-mail. The owner uses his personal iPad during work hours to check and respond to email messages.

Prior to your hiring, the firm hired a network cabling contractor to run Cat 6 cables from the central wiring closet to all offices and cubicles. The firm wants to move away from using wireless as the primary network connection, but wants to keep wireless access for customers coming to the building. The technician who did the wiring mentioned to your supervisor that he should look into setting up a Windows Server domain to manage user access, instead of the current peer-to-peer network. He also recommended that the firm invest in a managed switch and a firewall, and look into having some backups. The internal IT support technician agreed with these recommendations but needs your help to implement them.

You’ve been asked to assess the current vulnerabilities and provide a recommendation to the firm’s owner on how to better secure the network infrastructure. Now that you are aware of the firm’s history, your assessment and recommendation should provide specifics about the network security settings that must be implemented and the equipment that must be procured, installed, and configured. The firm’s owner has a basic understanding of computing, so it is important that you explain the technical issues in layman's terms.

Overview

You will provide a detailed vulnerabilities assessment document, along with some specific

recommendations to implement to address the vulnerabilities you have described. This document should be based on the scenario provided.

Your proposal will be submitted in three Separate Papers:

1. Vulnerabilities Assessment

2. Network System Security Recommendations

3. Application/End-User Security Recommendations

It should be written using the IEEE citation style. To learn how you will be assessed on this

assignment, please take a moment to review the rubric.

Use this template as a guide while creating your Vulnerabilities Assessment and Recommendation Document (Parts 1-3).

Vulnerabilities Section

This section should include areas where network security could pose security problems. Explain

why these vulnerabilities could be exploited and what the implications are if they are not

addressed. In this section, you do not need to provide specific recommendations on how to

mitigate these issues.

Network security section

This section should include specific recommendations based on the vulnerabilities identified in

the previous section. These would include procuring new equipment or systems, and you should

explain why these systems or equipment are needed. Cognizant that the firm only has a

NETGEAR wireless router, you should determine what else is needed. The firm has Cat 6 cable

running from each work area to the central wiring closet. But those cables are just hanging from

the ceiling now. The technician has recommended implementing a managed switch, a firewall,

and a Windows domain, as well as setting up some backups (note: this could mean many

things). Research appropriate equipment and provide guidance on the setup as appropriate for the business.

Include any configuration information for the equipment. For example, if you are getting a firewall, what setting(s) from a firewall should be in place for this firm?

Application end user security recommendations

This should include end-user specific recommendations such as the need for a specific application

on the end-user’s computer or a specific training or best practice that the user must employ.

Again, explain why these are necessary and provide the specific configuration information as

needed.

Project template

EACH PAPER MUST HAVE A BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. Vulnerability Assessments

Use this section to describe any network security vulnerabilities. Use the scenario along with industry

standards and best practices to identify the vulnerabilities. Describe why it is vulnerable and what the

implication is if it is not mitigated.

The example below is of the physical security of a warehouse. (In your submission, you will have several

vulnerabilities identified and mitigated.)

At the Alpha Warehouse, we discovered one key vulnerability to the physical security. This was the use

of a Master Lock combination lock to secure the back entrance. While the use of a combination lock can

limit the number of people who can enter to those given the combination,vulnerability in the design of

these locks was recently exposed. By using “a process that requires less than two minutes and a minimal

amount of skill to carry out” [1], would-be thieves can access the warehouse through a single

entrance. While the thief will need to also have access to an online calculator that helps stream the

process, the prevalence of smartphones makes this a small hurdle to jump, allowing any interested parties

quick access to the Alpha Warehouse.

II. Network/System Security Recommendations This section will provide network/system security recommendations on how to address the vulnerabilities

identified in Section I. Provide specific courses of action along with any pertinent information about the

recommendations. In this section, you will cover recommendations only to network infrastructure or

network devices. Don’t cover software recommendations here.

Example

In order to resolve the vulnerability created by using a Master Lock combination lock, it is recommended

that it be replaced by a more secure deadbolt door lock—specifically, a Falcon D241. This lock is rated as

the top standard lock by Consumer Reports [2]. The magazine rates its resistance to kicking, prying,

wrenching, and hammering as excellent, and the resistance to picking and sawing as very good. The only

thing that was considered poor was its resistance to drilling, but no standard lock was anything other than

poor. Only the high-security locks had higher ratings for drilling, and only one of those,

the Medeco Macum 11WC60L, was rated higher than the Falcon [3]. Given its price of almost threetimes

as much as the Falcon, the cost does not seem worth the benefit. However, it is a more secure option that

the warehouse administration may want to consider.

III. Application/End-User Security Recommendations This section will provide application/end-user security recommendations. Provide specific courses of

action along with any pertinent information about the recommendations. This section will include any

network protocol or software as well as actions that the end-user must do.

Example

In addition to installing a new lock on the back door of the warehouse, there are policy recommendations

that warehouse administration should implement. The most important policy recommendation is that the

number of keys to the back entrance of the warehouse should be limited to only those that need it and in

most cases only when they need it. As this is a secondary entrance, it is not necessary that all employees

have a permanent key. The warehouse manager should have one key that he keeps at all times.

Additionally, he should have access to a secondary key in the warehouse office that only he can access.

This secondary key can be given on a temporary basis to employees who need to access the back

entrance. Also, this secondary key should be given on a sign-out basis. Employees who are given the key

should have their name noted in a log book. When they return it, another notation is made indicating such.

This tracks who is responsible for the key at any given time, and should it go missing, will serve as a

paper trail for who had the key last.

Bibliography [1] Goodin, D. (2015). How to crack many Master Lock combinations in eight tries or less

[Online]. Available: HYPERLINK "http://www.arstechnica.com/security/2015/04/how-to-crack-any-

master-lock-combination-in-8-tries-or-less/"http://www.arstechnica.com/security/2015/04/how-to-crack-

any-master-lock-combination-in-8-tries-or-less/

[2] Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. (2013). Door security: A guide to

security doorsets and associated locking hardware.[Online]. Available: HYPERLINK

"http://www.cpni.gov.uk/documents/publications/2013/2013012-

security_doorsets_locking_hardware.pdf"http://www.cpni.gov.uk/documents/publications/2013/2013012-

security_doorsets_locking_hardware.pdf

[3] ConsumerReports.org. (2013). Falcon D241 Door Lock Review. [Online]. Available: HYPERLINK

"http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/door-locks/door-lock-

ratings/models/overview/falcon-d241-99041055.htm"http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-

garden/home-improvement/door-locks/door-lock-ratings/models/overview/falcon-d241-99041055.htm