Forwarded From: "Rob Slade, doting grandpa of Ryan and Trevor" <rsladet_private> Posted To: p1t_private BKWNTSCG.RVW 980513 "Windows NT Security Guide", Stephen A. Sutton, 1997, 0-201-41969-6, U$29.95/C$41.00 %A Stephen A. Sutton suttont_private %C P.O. Box 520, 26 Prince Andrew Place, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 2T8 %D 1997 %G 0-201-41969-6 %I Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. %O U$29.95/C$41.00 416-447-5101 fax: 416-443-0948 bkexpresst_private %P 373 p. %T "Windows NT Security Guide" Part one deals with issues of interest to users. Chapter one is a conceptual introduction to security and the NT system. The material is informal. This makes it easy to read, but also sacrifices completeness. Sutton's idiosyncratic structure is weak in certain areas; for example, reliability. The content is also lavish in its praise of Microsoft and NT, and seemingly unwilling to admit to any weak areas or flaws. Accounts, and the domain model, and reviewed in chapter two. (Illustrations are heavily used, and could be helpful were it not for the fact that so many have serious errors.) The working environment, in chapter three, holds a rather random assortment of features but concentrates on the NT security window, rather mystically referred to as the "Trusted Path." (Both this term and "Trusted Computer Base" are specific referents of the "Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria" of the US Department of Defense, better known as the "Orange Book". Neither term is used in the specific manner defined by the Orange Book.) The structure of the presentation seems to be intent on showing off, frequently querying the user before having provided the answer. (On the other hand, one formal exercise asks whether the user should enter a password into a specific request box on the screen, and immediately tells you that NT does not use that request box.) Chapter four goes into a lot of detail on ACLs (Access Control Lists) but, in common with all too many security books, does not present a completely clear picture of effective rights in the case of combinations of permissions. A number of situations where the same user name can be handled differently are looked at in chapter five. Part two involves administrative tasks. Chapter six covers the mechanics of domain administration quite well, but the actual planning is not dealt with in depth. Management of accounts is the topic of chapter seven. Auditing and logging is covered in fair detail in chapter eight. Although chapter nine is nominally about the Internet and intranets, most of the space is dedicated to general discussions of encryption. Details of algorithms are minimal, and a number of the topics covered have only tangential relevance to NT. Chapter ten is a grab bag of topics including the Registry, system policies, and printers. The "Trusted Computing Base," in chapter eleven, seems to refer to computer hardware and software assets, but the protection of these assets is not well explained. (One of the author's major fears seems to be viruses, but despite a great many mentions there is little realistic information about them in the book.) Chapter twelve closes off with a checklist summary of section titles from the book to this point. Part three is a single chapter, on assessment of NT security. Much of this chapter is dedicated to proving that NT does not need to conform to the "Orange Book" levels. The stated intent of the book is to provide security information both to users of Windows NT, and to network administrators. In reality, users would need "cookbook" style recommendations that could be put into practice immediately, and which are generally missing from the book. Administrators need a more complete and well rounded approach to the topic, particularly addressing vulnerabilities in NT itself (such as the built-in and well known standard accounts). For those with no background in security the book provides a little knowledge. However, note the proverbial danger of a little knowledge, particularly in cases where overconfidence can lead to disaster. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998 BKWNTSCG.RVW 980513 -o- Subscribe: mail majordomot_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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