A program that experts have said is the missing piece in federal efforts to promote secure computing will be ready later this year. Officials at the National Institute of Standards and Technology announced that a security configuration checklists program for information technology products, including a logo that vendors can put on their wares, is on track for completion before the end of 2004. . . .. A program that experts have said is the missing piece in federal efforts to promote secure computing will be ready later this year. Officials at the National Institute of Standards and Technology announced that a security configuration checklists program for information technology products, including a logo that vendors can put on their wares, is on track for completion before the end of 2004. A security configuration checklist describes the software options and settings that users can choose to minimize the security risks associated with a particular type of hardware or software. More commonly referred to as lockdown guides or security benchmarks, security checklists are basically documents for securing IT hardware or software in different settings. Security checklists for home computer users, for example, would be different from those for federal computer users handling sensitive data. A checklist could include scripts, templates and pointers to Web sites where users can download software updates or firmware upgrades to make products more secure from attack by viruses and other malicious code spread via the Web. The link for this article located at fcw.com is no longer available. . An initiative aimed at bolstering national secure data operations, provides technology setup guides for various environments.. IT Security Checklists, Configuration Standards, Secure Computing Strategies. . Anthony Pell
A group of high-level IT officials in the federal government has begun collaborating on configuration benchmarks that government agencies could be required to use in future purchases of hardware and software. The development of the benchmarks is at once an indication . . . . A group of high-level IT officials in the federal government has begun collaborating on configuration benchmarks that government agencies could be required to use in future purchases of hardware and software. The development of the benchmarks is at once an indication of the growing importance of security in Washington and of the government's intention to use its purchasing power as an agent of change inside the Beltway and in the vendor community. "Yes, I believe the government is getting better at this," said Alan Paller, research director at The SANS Institute, based in Bethesda, Md., who has spoken with many of the federal CIOs involved in this effort. "This doesn't solve the entire problem, but it helps going forward. I believe a great deal of money was thrown away on reports that could've been spent on solving the problem." The link for this article located at EWeek is no longer available. . Top-tier government tech leaders unite to establish safety standards for acquiring hardware and software.. Security Benchmarks,Federal IT Collaboration,Government Standards. . Anthony Pell
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