Re: Checking for AV software on students' machines

[Steve Schuster <sjs74 () CORNELL EDU>]

This has been a great conversation and very timely from our perspective.

We have performed regular security scans of ResNet and the Cornell server
farm for a couple of years now as part of our normal practice.  In
addition, we regularly block network access for systems that are found to
be exhibiting inappropriate behavior.

We are currently in the process of expanding operations in the area of
scanning:
        1.  We have just published policy to require all computers on our
network to be centrally registered.
        2.  We will be scanning all student systems with 24 hours of
network registration this fall.  Those found vulnerable will have their
network access suspended.  We'll be checking for common things like no
passwords on accounts, open fileshares, etc.
        3.  We are also xpanding our scanning to include additional
systems outside ResNet and the server farm.

We want to move to assessing for AV installation and acceptable patch level
but that will come at a later time.

We are currently running into a backlash with respect to policy requiring
the registration of all computer systems that are on our network.  Can you
help me gauge if there are other schools who also require this?

Thanks,
sjs


At 09:12 AM 6/10/2004, you wrote:
> Thank you for this excellent report from UC Davis.  Virginia Tech is
> making similar plans for network registration and scanning, and we
> appreciate everyone sharing their experiences.
> Mary
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Mary Dunker
> Secure Enterprise Technology Initiatives
> Virginia Tech Information Technology
> 1700 Pratt Drive
> Blacksburg, VA 24060
> (540) 231-9327
> FAX: (540) 231-7413
> dunker () vt edu
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Ono [mailto:raono () UCDAVIS EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 4:02 PM
> To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Checking for AV software on students' machines
>
>
> Jeff,
> We are in the process of expanding our vulnerability scan that takes
> place as part of our authentication to campus-wide web-based
> applications. See http://security.ucdavis.edu/vulnscanrpt.pdf for
> further information. Let me know if you have any questions.
>
> Bob
>
> > Nathan-
> >
> > I unfortunately don't have an answer to your questions regarding
> > verification of AV software on client machines, but I was wondering if
>
> > you could provide some details on how you accomplished your first goal
>
> > - verifying for patches before a student machine is allowed on the
> network.
> >
> > We are currently investigating ways to drop student machines into a
> > "quarantine" VLAN if they are not up to the latest Windows patches,
> > but so far have not found an effective way to do that check. Does your
>
> > solution require some kind of pre-installed client agent?
> >
> > I didn't see anything in a previous thread, but if you've already
> > answered that question my apologies. Any insight, advice, horror
> > stories you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jeff Giacobbe
> > Director of Systems, Security, and Networking
> > Montclair State University
> >
> >
> > Nathan Hall wrote:
> > > Now that we have found a way to check students' machines for missing
>
> > > patches before they are allowed on the network, we are looking to
> expand
> > > to checking for the presence of updated anti-virus software. This
> > > requires access to the students' machines, so we are looking at
> > > using
> a
> > > web page with a .NET component to perform the check. A few
> > > questions:
> > >
> > > 1) Is anyone else doing something like this currently?
> > > 2) How have you implemented this (web page w/ ActiveX/.Net,
> downloadable
> > > program...)?
> > > 3) What do you look for to determine if AV software is present
> (registry
> > > entries, services, running processes...)?
> > > 4) How successful has it been?
> > > 5) Pitfalls?
> > >
> > > Any other input would be appreciated too. Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Nathan Hall
> > > System Administrator
> > > SUNY Oneonta
> > > Oneonta, NY 13820
> > > (607) 436-2708
> > >
> > > **********
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>
> Robert Ono, CISSP
> IT Security Coordinator
> Office of the Vice Provost, Information and Educational Technology UC
> Davis 530.757.5795 Desk
>
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Schuster
IT Security Office
Cornell University
Work -- (607)255-8825   Cell -- (607)351-1386
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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