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Topic: Networking

Simon Crosby suggests CIOs and CTOs wake up to a new threat

Summary: Commentary on eWeek article "2010 Saw the Dawn of NationState Cyberwars: Citrix CTO"

Dan Kusnetzky

By for Virtually Speaking |

Chris Preimesberger of eWeek, just published 2010 Saw the Dawn of Nation-State Cyber Wars: Citrix CTO. Chris had a rather scary conversation with Simon Crosby, CTO for Citrix. Simon let his imagination run a bit and presented a number of things that should be scaring organizations' CIOs and CTOs.

Simon started with the "hyperinnovation" in the client, server and network arenas combined with state-sponsored cyber attacks. He then brought in attitudes most much-to-busy CIOs and CTOs bring to the environment and then suggested that folks wake up to the potential security threats and do something about them. While his statements, as usual, are presented in a rather strong, some would say extreme, way, most of the main points he makes are well taken.

I'd recommend that you take a moment to read Chris' article.

As the new year is posed to begin, it would be a good time for CIOs and CTOs to review what has happened in 2010 and consider what security and management enhancements are needed.

Topics: Networking, Security

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  • RE: Simon Crosby suggests CIOs and CTOs wake up to a new threat

    Chris claims that the scenario of copying data onto a usb stick could have been prevented using desktop virtualization, and proceeds to promote cloud computing in the process.<br><br>That same scenario could also have been prevented if someone knew what the hell they were doing with Active Directory Group Policies, which allows for prohibiting the use of external drives.<br><br>Microsoft has a KB article that details how to accomplish that and in a government facility, I would have expected such a measure to be in place...especially a military facility.<br><br>For DDoS attacks, having a lot of redundancy is the most likely answer, but for internal security, the administrative folks have to allow the IT folks to lock things down like they are supposed to and stop whining and crying when things don't work like they do on their home PC.
    VRSpock
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Simon Crosby suggests CIOs and CTOs wake up to a new threat

      @VRSpock
      Very true. Also you can still have USB capability enabled on a Citrix session.

      Poor security is poor security, regardless of the technology.
      dazzlingd
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Simon Crosby suggests CIOs and CTOs wake up to a new threat

    They only wake up to the smell of money.
    james347
    Reply Vote

  • CIO/CTO = INCOMPETENT OVERPAID BOOB

    You think your CIO or CTO is going to wake up to a threat like this?

    Go to their house, they probably have their wireless router (if they know what wireless is) still on default broadcasting their SSID to the world with no login and a password of "admin"...

    They are the ones who can't figure out their new blackberry or smart phone that are always calling the help desk to figure it out, or calling them with questions like "Now how do I set up my Outlook at home on my computer again"??

    I'm sure the biggest threat to any CIO/CTO is their salary and how to keep it going up. As I've stated before, CIOs and CTOs are mostly good old boys promoted from within from a position that had nothing to do with computers to begin with. If you had actual IT people at that level running the show you'd have a different scenario completely.
    cyberslammer2
    Reply Vote

  • Kick them in the ... head.

    The problem is always the same. Management focuses on the money. Even when someone does a rigorous risk analysis they skip to last last page to find out what the fix will cost, and then reject the results.
    The only way to get their attention is to kick them in the head. When the flimsy infrastructure falls down and the business stops they will blame it on the IT staff.
    I watched an IT manager pull two years worth on memos and reports out of his files when he got called to the CEOs office to explain the disaster. He was able to prove that the two previous CIOs had stonewalled the improvements for years. CIO offered to fire him. He pointed out that he was a shareholder and would be glad to discuss the whole mess at the next shareholders meeting.
    lars626
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Simon Crosby suggests CIOs and CTOs wake up to a new threat

      @lars626 Point proven. CIOs are complete idiots.
      cyberslammer2
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Simon Crosby suggests CIOs and CTOs wake up to a new threat

        @cyberslammer2 Saying all xx are anything is a bit of over reaching in my view. Some CIOs have issues. Others are really smart people trying to help the organization make best use of its investment in technology, in people and in facilities.

        I don't think it is appropriate to lump people together under a single title and then say they're all one thing or another.

        People are people. Some represent the highest. It is also wise to remember that half of them represented the lower half of their class.

        Dan K
        dkusnetzky
        Reply Vote

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