IT Dojo: Disable USB storage under OS X or Windows

Hollywood would have IT pros believe that the biggest threat to network security comes from international super hackers or high school kids trying to download games like global thermonuclear war. In reality, we face a more mundane threat--our end users, particularly those wielding USB storage devices.These pocket-sized devices can store a large amount of data. But even if your users aren't planning to cart off sensitive company files, USB storage devices (external hard drives, camera, memory stick, MP3 players, etc.) can be a headache in other ways. Employees may use your networks to download music to their USB-based MP3 players. New USB flash drives, such as SanDisk's U3 smart drives, can even run software directly from the device--a perfect tool for the end-user who wants to run unauthorized software on your network.If your concerned about USB storage devices on your network and don’t feel a written policy alone will protect your data, disabling the devices is your next step.In this IT Dojo video, Bill Detwiler, TechRepublic's Head Technology Editor, shows you how to disable USB storage devices on both Apple OS X and Windows. The United States National Security Agency (NSA) described the process in a March 2008 document from the agency's Information Assurance Directorate.Once you've watched this IT Dojo video, you can read the original TechRepublic article, download PDF version of this tip, and learn more about mitigating the risks poses by USB storage devices from our IT Dojo blog.