Don't Network Administrators Require Privacy? 457
An anonymous reader writes to tell us that Recently their company has decided to move the IT staff out of their offices to make room for the Service Department. The move has placed the IT staff in cubicles that all face inward and lack, obviously, the ability to lock their doors at night. This is, to them, an obvious breach in security and privacy for what may be sensitive network information. Have any other Slashdot readers dealt with this sort of problem before? If so, what specific information was best suited to rectify these security concerns?
Sounds pretty standard (Score:5, Informative)
Could someone look over your shoulder? I guess... but there are people out there (like say, me, or employees at any other benefits outsourcing company) that have access to literally thousands or even millions of people's date of birth, SSN, etc etc. We get along just fine, so will you.
I mean, sucks you lost your office... I remember mine, it was nice.
Screen lock & locked cabinets (Score:3, Informative)
It seems like the larger issue is being evicted for the "Service Department". They're the ones that should be in cubes, but that's another story.
I do (Score:2, Informative)
It's not that big of a deal, but I guess I don't sit there looking at confidential passwords all day long!
I do, however, always lock my computer when I get up (xscreensaver...ctrlaltdel). That seems sufficient to me.
Oh! And I don't leave sensitive information sitting out on my desk, either.
Re:Might Even Be Illegal? (Score:1, Informative)
HIPAA Security regulations should take care of the rest of the issues from the computer being in an open area.
Yes, there are two different parts to HIPAA (Privacy and Security).
I should know, I'm the HIPAA Officer at my job......DON'T DO IT!
USB keys (Score:1, Informative)
Since your workstation is now accessible to all... that last bit about keys is imperitive.
As for physical security... if something is so sensitive that it must be locked in your office perhaps it should be locked in a vault or cage instead. A teenager could kick in an office door and gain access to the sensitive bits. And if it's that important... maybe it shouldn't be up to one person to keep track of it. If the information is dangerous if it gets out... then maybe what you need for this stuff is more like an armory and less like a bunch of offices secured with cheesy locks.
And in general... I hope you got a bonus and raise for this. Otherwise it's a pretty lame demotion. Instead of adjusting the security policiy to reflect your new surroundings... I'd be spending that time looking for a new job. This was a power struggle and your boss was too much of a pussy to defend your position.. so fire them. Go get a new boss someplace else or go into business for yourself.
Re:Man up, nancy. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Man up, nancy. (Score:4, Informative)
Microsoft.
Re:Man up, nancy. (Score:5, Informative)
Don't Network Administrators Require Privacy? (Score:2, Informative)
As has already been discussed your physical security is now wide open, walk off with that HD that has the boss's info backed up on it?
Software disks install No's stuff that your company now pays thousands for are much more accessible to the light fingered.
Good luck with hanging on to your office
Re:Might Even Be Illegal? (Score:1, Informative)
Do you have the slightest idea what you're talking about? The code compliance for every single new "room" alone would kill it. Let alone all the building costs. Maybe, just maybe for new construction you can possibly justify it somehow, but I doubt it. There's no way you can retrofit it.
That material they use to make cubes is expensive.
It's not that expensive. I know what it will cost to have Spacefitters come in and install a brand new 6x10 cube. Two guys come out and put it together, proably making 15 bucks an hour. It takes them an hour at most to build it and wire it. I also know what it will cost to have all the appropriate contractors come in to build out a new network closet (equivalent to a small office). At least four different types of contractors (the builder, the electrician, the plumber and the painter). All of these guys are union, and that labor rate is twice or more that of Spacefitters. It will also take a couple days to have a usable closet. You may have one or two of those guys on your facilities staff, but it's doubtful, the cost of keeping licensed staff is pretty high and most places use contractors. Even then you're only cutting the labor markup, your biggest benefit would be tightening up the scheduling. The difference is in the thousands of dollars per unit.