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The Rise of the CISO
4/1/2007
CISO Challenge: Emerging Optical Networks
What is the impact of optical networks such as the National LambdaRail and Internet2’s NewNet on information security and the role of the CISO? These networks not only provide traditional internet connectivity at much higher speed, but also add the ability to provision dedicated wavelengths (called lambdas) between two points. In technical terms, internet connectivity provides the user with layer-3 services, whereas a dedicated lambda provides the user with layer-1 services. By analogy, traditional internet connectivity gives the user control of a car running on a highway system that he or she does not control. A dedicated lambda gives the user control of the highway, which can now be used for a car, a semi, or as a walking path.
The flexibility and power of optical networks elicit the question: Are these new optical networks more or less secure than current networks? Joe St Sauver, director of user services and network applications at the University of Oregon, has the following Zen-like answer: “They add no new security issues and they add many new security issues.” Other security experts agree.
But South Carolina’s Richardson points out that “data is data”: The basic security issues don’t change. Although faster networks will require faster firewalls and network appliances, the underlying policy structures and access control mechanisms remain the same. Yet Terry Gray, associate VP of technology engineering, computing, and communications at the University of Washington, notes that a denial of service (DoS) attack by hundreds of bots connected at 10GB would qualitatively “up the ante.”
Coming Soon: Special Supplement!
CISOs and CSOs alike will want to keep their eyes open for the exclusive Campus Technology special supplement coming in July. A first-ever roadmap to integrating information and facilities security, "Securing the Campus" will offer readers 24 pages crammed with in-depth case studies, indispensible resource information, "shows to know," and the latest IT and physical security product news. Editorial queries to rkelly@1105media.com.
Supporting this view, St Sauver adds, “The new networks significantly increase higher education’s responsibilities for the physical facilities needed to support level-1 networking, and consequently increase our security obligations.” He notes that because provisioning and maintaining optical facilities is so expensive, there is increased consolidation and aggregation of equipment, which results in a reduction in path and equipment redundancy—meaning fewer but higher-value targets. In short, we have more eggs in a single basket.
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