Computer Security Handbook [Paperback]

Seymour Bosworth (Author), Michel E. Kabay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471412589 | ISBN-13: 978-0471412588 | Publication Date: April 11, 2002 | Edition: 4

This is the most comprehensive book on computer security on the market, with 23 chapters and 29 Appendices covering virtually all aspects of computer security.

• Chapters are contributed by recognized experts in the industry.
• This title has come to be known as "Big Blue" in industry circles and has a reputation for being the reference for computer security issues.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The definitive formula for computer security, from power outages to theft and sabotage

Whether you are in charge of many computers, or even one important one, there are immediate steps you can take to safeguard your company's computer system and its contents. The Computer Security Handbook provides a readable and comprehensive resource for protecting computer mainframe systems and PC networks. This Fourth Edition continues a long tradition of maintaining highly regarded industry guidelines for detecting virtually every possible threat to your system and prescribes specific actions you can take to eliminate them.

The collected chapters are written by renowned industry professionals. Requiring minimal technical knowledge to understand, covered topics include: foundations of computer security, threats and vulnerabilities, prevention (technical defenses and human factors), detection, remediation, management's role, and other considerations such as using encryption internationally, anonymity and identity in cyberspace, and censorship.

Protect the information and networks that are vital to your organization with Computer Security Handbook, Fourth Edition.

About the Author

SEYMOUR BOSWORTH, CDP , is president of S. Bosworth & Associates, Plainview, New York, a management consulting firm active in computing applications for banking, commerce, and industry. Since 1972 Bosworth has been a contributing editor to all four editions of the Computer Security Handbook, and he has written many articles and lectured extensively about computer security and other technical and managerial subjects. He has been responsible for design and manufacture, system analysis, programming, and operations of both digital and analog computers.
M. E. KABAY, PhD, is Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems at Norwich University, where he is also director of the graduate program in Information Assurance. During his career, he has worked as an operating systems internals and database performance specialist for Hewlett-Packard, an operations manager at a large service bureau, and a consultant in operations, performance, and security.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 4 edition (April 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471412589
• ISBN-13: 978-0471412588
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,381,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The InfoSec Bible... Simply put, a MUST have!, June 13, 2002

By 

Sean P. Doyle (Edmonds, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Computer Security Handbook (Paperback)

This book is the Bible of information security. I stumbled into the 3rd edition (published in 1995) years ago and found it quite helpful, but dated by the time I acquired it. I was simply stunned and enthralled when I discovered a 4th edition had been published. I ordered it immediately, and waited impatiently to arrive... (2 day air)... I received it today, and I can't put it down. It has completely exceeded my expectations, which were considerable given I was very much impressed with the 3rd. This book belongs in any security professionals library. If you haven't got it, you are missing the definitive compendium of security information. Once you have mastered this text, other books do an excellent job of drilling further into the details, but few can exceed the sheer scope and thoroughness of this tome. For those worried about acquiring obsolete texts, this edition is completely current and up to date! Very impressive. Highly recommmended.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Must-Have IT Security Guide, April 17, 2002

By 

Robert V. Jacobson (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Computer Security Handbook (Paperback)

This is an amazing book stuffed with details of every facet of Information Technology Security. If you can't find the security guidance you want here, it doesn't exist. The material is neatly organizated into eight parts with a detailed index to make it easy to find answers. I found that by turning the pages and looking at the figures, I discovered all kinds of topics I hadn't previously thought about. Full disclosure requires me to announce that I wrote Chapter 47, and collaborated on Chapter 1, but this hasn't skewed my view of all the other chapters as outstanding work by all the other authors.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Book that covers all aspects of Computer Security, November 26, 2002

By 

Gainfordson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Security Handbook (Paperback)

I am offering an IT Security undergraduate course for the first time this Fall in a Business School environment. I reviewed many books on IT security before I selected this title for my course. The vast majority of Security books are nuts-and-bolts oriented, great for Engineers and Computer Scientists but lacking depth for the IT manager.

This book is a welcome relief since it contains such a wealth of information valuable to anyone working as an IT practitioner. It has several strenghts that other IS security books do not have: The current edition has been revised since the events of September 11th and thoughtfully reflects the change of the collective mindset of the IT world. Secondly, each Chapter is written by an expert in their respective fields. Thirdly, there is is a collection of references and links at the end of each Chapter which I found to be particularly valuable.

My course covers about half the topics in this book. The chapters on: Information Warfare, Denial of Service Attacks, Protecting Internet Visible Systems, Public Key Infrastructure and Computer Audit stand out in my mind as outstanding.

I intend to use this book again next Fall when this course is offered once more.