Computer Security Basics

By Debby Russell, G.T. Gangemi, Sr.
July 1991
Pages: 468
ISBN 10: 0-937175-71-4 | ISBN 13: 9780937175712
(4) (Average of 2 Customer Reviews)

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Description

Provides a broad introduction to the many areas of computer security and a detailed description of current security standards. This handbook describes complicated concepts like trusted systems, encryption, and mandatory access control in simple terms, and contains a thorough, readable introduction to the "Orange Book."
Full Description

There's a lot more consciousness of security today, but not a lot of understanding of what it means and how far it should go. No one loves security, but most people---managers, system administrators and users alike---are starting to feel that they'd better accept it, or at least try to understand it. For example, most U.S. Government equipment acquisitions now require "Orange Book" (Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria) certification. A lot of people have a vague feeling that they ought to know about the Orange Book, but few make the effort to track it down and read it. Computer Security Basics contains a more readable introduction to the Orange Book---why it exists, what it contains, and what the different security levels are all about---than any other book or government publication. This handbook describes complicated concepts such as trusted systems, encryption, and mandatory access control in simple terms. It tells you what you need to know to understand the basics of computer security, and it will help you persuade your employees to practice safe computing. Contents include:

Introduction (basic computer security concepts, security breaches such as the Internet worm).
Computer security and requirements of the Orange Book.
Communications and network security.
Peripheral types of security (including biometric devices, physical controls, and TEMPEST).
Appendices: terms, sources, user groups, and other reference material.

Featured customer reviews

Computer Security Basics Review, October 01 2002

Rating:

Submitted by Kevin McDonnell [Respond | View]

Computer security is an important consideration for technology managers, as it is imperative to ensure the viability and integrity of an organisations data and technology infrastructure, and to allow for the provision of providing services to internal end users as well as external customers. Whilst awareness has increased over the years, computer security can still remain one of those subjects that can easily confuse.

This book provides a broad introduction to the many facets of computer security. Technology managers without any previous knowledge or understanding of computer security will find this book valuable in obtaining a basic grounding of security.

(kevin_mcdonnell@rcr.ac.uk)

Computer Security Basics Review, April 15 2001

Rating:

Submitted by Brian Buckley [Respond | View]

This book should be your first step towards understanding Computer Security. I believe it is only missing one core concept of the security paradigm, liability. Granted, liability is only recently being focused on, especially with insurance companies providing policies and commercial organizations providing web site privacy certifications.

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Media reviews "A very well-rounded book, filled with concise, authoritative information...written with the user in mind, but still at a level to be an excellent professional reference." --Mitch Wright, System Administrator, I-NET, Inc.

"Computer Security Basics is an excellent treatment of a complex subject. [It] is a complete introduction to computer security, and is a valuable reference for both security novices and experts." --Michael McChesney, CEO, SecureWare

"I want to commend you on producing one of the more useful publications on the subject. Its main appeal to me is that having it on my desk saves me going through five filing cabinets of information to answer the frequently asked questions (FAQs) that come through this area." --Mark Ames, Systems Security Manager, National Australia Bank

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