Networking / Beginners

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Myth 5: All Environments Should At Least Use <Insert Favorite Guide Here>

One size does not fit all. Every environment has unique requirements and unique threats. If there truly was a guide for how to secure every single system out there, the settings in it would be the default. The problem is that when people start making these statements, they fail to take into account the complexity of security and system administration. Administrators usually get phone calls only when things break. Security breaks things; that is why some security-related settings are turned off by default. To be able to protect an environment, you have to understand what that environment looks like, who is using it and for what, and what the threats are that they have decided need mitigated. Security is about risk management, and risk management is about understanding and managing risks, not about making a bunch of changes in the name of making changes solely to justify one's own existence and paycheck.

At the very least, an advanced system administrator should evaluate the security guide or policy that will be used and ensure that it is appropriate for the environment. Certain tailoring to the environment is almost always necessary. These are not things that an entry-level administrator can do, however. Care is of the essence when authoring or tailoring security policies.