Computer Security: 20 Things Every Employee Should Know (McGraw-Hill Professional Education) [Paperback]

Ben Rothke (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0072262826 | ISBN-13: 978-0072262827 | Publication Date: August 18, 2005 | Edition: 2

Securing corporate resources and data in the workplace is everyone's responsibility. Corporate IT security strategies are only as good as the employee's awareness of his or her role in maintaining that strategy. This book presents the risks, responsibilities, and liabilities (known and unknown) of which every employee should be aware, as well as simple protective steps to keep corporate data and systems secure. Inside this easy-to-follow guide, you'll find 20 lessons you can use to ensure that you are doing your part to protect corporate systems and privileged data.The topics covered include: Phishing and spyware; Identity theft; Workplace access; Passwords viruses and malware'; Remote access; E-mail; Web surfing and Internet use; Instant messaging; Personal firewalls and patches; Hand-held devices; Data backup; Management of sensitive information; Social engineering tactics; and, Use of corporate resources. Ben Rothke, CISSP, CISM, is a New York City-based senior security consultant with ThruPoint, Inc. He has more than 15 years of industry experience in the area of information systems security and privacy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Securing corporate resources and data in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. Corporate IT security strategies are only as good as the employee’s awareness of his or her role in maintaining that strategy. This book presents the risks, responsibilities, and liabilities (known and unknown) of which every employee should be aware, as well as simple protective steps to keep corporate data and systems secure. Inside this easy-to-follow guide, you’ll find 20 lessons you can use to ensure that you are doing your part to protect corporate systems and privileged data. The topics covered include:

• Phishing and spyware
• Identity theft
• Workplace access
• Passwords
• Viruses and malware
• Remote access
• E-mail
• Web surfing and Internet use
• Instant messaging
• Personal firewalls and patches
• Hand-held devices
• Data backup
• Management of sensitive information
• Social engineering tactics
• Use of corporate resources

Ben Rothke, CISSP, CISM, is a New York City-based senior security consultant with ThruPoint, Inc. He has more than 15 years of industry experi¬ence in the area of information systems security and privacy.

About the Author

Biography of Ben Rothke Ben Rothke, CISSP is a New York City based senior security consultant with ThruPoint, Inc. and has more than 15 years of industry experience in the area of information systems security. His areas of expertise are in PKI, HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, design & implementation of systems security, encryption, firewall configuration & review, cryptography and security policy development. Prior to joining ThruPoint, Ben was with Baltimore Technologies, Ernst & Young, and Citicorp, and has provided security solutions to many Fortune 500 companies. Ben is also the lead mentor in the ThruPoint, Inc. CISSP preparation program, preparing security professionals to take the rigorous CISSP examination. Ben has written numerous articles for such computer periodicals as the Journal of Information Systems Security, PC Week, Network World, Information Security, Secure Computing, Information Security Magazine, Windows NT Magazine, InfoWorld & the Computer Security Institute Journal. Ben writes for Unix Review and Security Management and is a former columnist for Information Security and Solutions Integrator magazine; and also is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. While not busy making corporate America a more secure place, Ben enjoys spending time with his family, and is preparing to run in the 2003 Marine Corps Marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training, the world's largest endurance sports training program Ben is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) & Certified Confidentiality Officer (CCO), and a member of HTCIA, ISSA, ICSA, IEEE, ASIS & CSI.

Product Details

• Paperback: 45 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 2 edition (August 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072262826
• ISBN-13: 978-0072262827
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for a handbook in computer security for all employees, October 8, 2003

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Computer Security: 20 Things Every Employee Should Know (Paperback)

If a company wishes to survive in the current environment where predators of all types are everywhere, then they must protect their assets. It only takes one mistake to open the protective dikes and let a person with malicious intent to gain access to important company information. Therefore, a fundamental part of company protection is educating all their employees in the basics of computer security. To do this, a short course in computer security basics is necessary, which should include behavior guidelines and threats of punishment if they are not followed.
If you are looking for a handbook to use for a short course in computer security, then this book is for you. Short and to the point without any unnecessary jargon, it can be read and understood by everyone. The twenty points presented are unquestionably those that would be in everyone's top twenty list of actions that the standard employee should perform.
Given the recent virus and terrorist threats, government mandated rules for privacy, and the exponential increase in Internet usage, computer security is rapidly becoming the most serious and dangerous issue faced by many businesses. The solution is to educate all employees in the basics of computer security, which can be done using this book as a resource.

109 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A *must* for Iall computer users!, October 13, 2003

By 

Joy "lafortuna" (HACIENDA HEIGHTS, US, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Computer Security: 20 Things Every Employee Should Know (Paperback)

How can you educate non-tech personnel on computer security? Buy them this book. It's brief and clear enough for even the most clueless end user to understand!

Companies should be buying this book by the boxload. It will save them a world of aggravation.

91 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Calling All Managers & Executives-This book is a must-have!, October 1, 2004

By 

Kevin Beaver (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Security: 20 Things Every Employee Should Know (Paperback)

Perhaps the greatest vulnerability to our information is lack of awareness. This book is the perfect way to spread the word to help prevent security breaches. The title says it all - everyone from executive managers to human resources to end users can benefit from it. I'm a true believer that people benefit the most from practical advice presented in a non-technical fashion. This book executes that flawlessly.