Re: Re: Setting up H323 IP telephony etc - was Re: [fw-wiz] Apple's iSight and Firewalls

[Frederick M Avolio <fred () avolio com>]

> Y'know, I think I must just be "retro" but I think there's no how, no way
> that netmeeting has any business entering or exiting a mission-critical
> network. I.e..: if it's worth firewalling, it's best to not allow this kind of
> stuff at all.

The first problem (not with Marcus's comments, but with the user request is 
that it *sounds* like a business requirement, but in *reality* is a 
suggested *solution*. I am saying, "I need NetMeeting," should be answered 
in a nice way with, "No you don't. What do you *really* need." Then explain 
it is your job and the IT folks job to come up with solutions. It makes you 
nervous when they try to do YOUR job. You're not trying to do THEIR job are 
you? Then help them formulate a requirement. Do they need "whiteboarding?" 
"Oh, Yeah! YEAH!" "Down boy," you say. "Do you NEED IT?" Do you need to 
share files? Audio conference? Etc.?

If it turns out they actually NEED NetMeeting, you know and I know the 
security analysis will cause you to tell them, "You can have full-fledged 
NetMeeting, but not at your desktop. Or you can have much, much less, but 
you can stay in your cube." If they pick #1, you stick a machine outside 
the perimeter, you scrub it between uses, and you make them go to the 
conference room in which it sits and use it. I know, I'm dreaming. But try 
it...

> Sorry - I'm feeling extremely curmudgeonly today.

Because you've passed the magic 40 benchmark.

> ... but the REAL answer is "people should not
> be connecting mission-critical networks to the Internet - even with
> firewalls."   A small handful of us have been singing this song quietly
> in the corner for about 12 years, now. Is anyone going to ever "get it"??

Ah... Easy question. No. :-)

f

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