Re: [Micronet] Upgrades and Security Requirements

First from my co-coordinator role:
David and I are attempting to get a Micronet meeting lined up on this
topic, and hopefully clear up the confusion regarding the Minimum Security
Standards. Once we can get a schedule nailed down, we will announce it and
we hope the Magnet folks will join us as well (is there really anyone left
on Campus that solely supports Mac?).

Second from my IT role in Chemistry:
I have to wonder why these issues weren't raised in Jan-March of this year,
when the sub-committee was requesting input, feedback, and hosted meetings
at different Campus levels. The MSS (Minimum Security Standards) have been
published for roughly three months, enough time for Departments to plan for
the '04-'05 FY and try to off set the costs of replacement systems/OSs.

Don't get me wrong, in Chemistry we have a major budget issue like everyone
else, and the MSS is going to cost a ton (12 subnets, ~100 research groups,
~150 core staff). Also it will burn a ton of our IT department's time, but
in the end it will save Chemistry a lot of IT time and money (both
departmental & research). An example; instead of having 120+ hosts being
wiped out because research groups wouldn't patch when Blaster hit, we might
have 10-20 hosts wiped out (either returning laptops, or out-of-the-box
machines, connected w/out patches). To me the MSS is a tool used to enforce
policies about patching/updates/virus protection/passwords, as well as a
means to root out the hosts that should have been replaced 2-5 years ago.
Also gives me a change to say, we simply don't support this OS and it
should be replaced/updated.

As for MCCA, it is really based on each Department's size and needs.
Chemistry we use MCCA, its great for saving time and money. We don't have
to track who has licenses for what version, and if people want the current
version of the OS or Office, we give them the CD. As I understand you
continue to use the current license, even after Campus or your department
gives up MCCA. When you need or want to upgrade to the next product, then
you must go out and pay for either Select or a boxed copy.

Just my .02 cent
jpk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johnathon P. Kogelman
Chemistry, Information Systems
(510) 642.4838
jpk@cchem.berkeley.edu

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Received on Wed Jun 23 12:20:10 2004