Last week, we looked at some of the network and Internet security needs of the small office/home office (SOHO, in computer business lingo). Whether you have one employee, or ten thousand, you need to have a formal security policy as part of your overall security plan, together with taking some basic security measures. Next, let’s look at some operating system (OS) options, and their security implications.
First, you should think seriously about which OS to use. Among those you are most likely to encounter are Microsoft’s Windows, followed by the various types of Linux, and finally, Apple Computer’s wonderfully elegant OS X (pronounced “OS Ten”). If you think you simply must use Windows for your network, be warned that Windows XP Home Edition is not suitable for professional networking, as it lacks too many essential security features. Sadly, this is the OS most often installed on bargain computers. Insist on using XP Professional Edition. Home Edition users can upgrade to Professional Edition for about $90. Although it is the most widely used OS in the world, Windows essentially has a poor security track record, and it has been only in the past few years that Microsoft has begun to make security an important part of its overall business plan.
The Linux OS, pioneered by Finnish computer genius Linus Torvalds, is widely deployed in business and academic settings, supported by numerous vendors who offer their own Linux variants, and has many distinct advantages, not the least of which is that it’s free. However, there is, as with any operating system, a learning curve that faces the new Linux user, which should not be downplayed. The steepness of that curve is usually directly related to one’s involvement and investment in Microsoft Windows. For many, though, this curve is easily offset by the fact that Linux is an infinitely customisable system, as opposed to the closed architecture of Windows, which makes Linux the choice of many computer security professionals.
In a class by itself, Apple’s OS X is considered by many to be what an operating system should be, and is the closest thing to a work of art that I’ve seen come from a computer company. That’s typical of Apple, though, as they’ve always had a reputation for producing “arty” products, which shows in the design of their hardware, and the classy user interface that presents OS X. While Windows and Linux can run on the same “x86” computer hardware, OS X only runs on Apple hardware (although there are plans to release an x86-compatibile version). By comparison, most Apple hardware and software seems expensive, which is probably why most of the world is still stuck in a “cheap” Windows computing environment. The seemingly high upfront price tag can be more than made up for by OS Xs ease of use and configuration, and excellent security record.
Next, we’ll look at configuring the existing security options built into your OS and programs.