In this article, the authors address the importance of taking a proactive approach to securing a school's network. To do this, it is first required to know the system's specific vulnerabilities and what steps to take to reduce them. The formal process for doing this is known as an information security risk assessment, or a security audit. What…

In the summer of 2003, a project to augment and improve the teaching of information assurance courses was started at IUP. Thus far, ten hands-on exercises have been developed. The exercises described in this article, and presented in the appendix, are based on actions required to secure a Linux host. Publicly available resources were used to…

Educational institutions that wish to implement a specialized teaching laboratory often have a variety of obstacles to overcome. Some of these obstacles are related to adapting existing classroom infrastructure, building the laboratory, and meeting the demands for multiple-use classrooms to maximize the return on investment. In some cases, such as…

The practice of using a social network to establish and enhance relationships based on some common ground--shared interests, related skills, or a common geographic location--is as old as human societies, but social networking has flourished due to the ease of connecting on the Web. This OCLC membership report explores this web of social…

The Association of Small Computer Users in Education (ASCUE) is a dynamic organization for people interested in small college technology issues. Its members include information technology professionals, instructional technologists, and faculty members from all over the world who use computers and technology to support teaching and learning. The…

As more people become computer literate, issues of privacy become more pertinent. Major privacy issues at the individual, national, and international levels are identified in the first part of the paper. These issues provide the basis for the second part of the paper, which is a report of a survey in which subjects were asked to indicate whether…

This paper discusses how to implement networking solutions in residence halls at Arcadia University in Philadelphia. Sections of the paper include: (1) About Arcadia University; (2) Residence Halls Network; (3) How Campus Manager Helped Arcadia University; (4) What Is Campus Manager; (5) How Campus Manager Works; (6) Campus Manager Remediation…

This handbook is designed to help readers identify and eliminate security risks, with sound recommendations and library-tested security software. Chapter 1 "Managing Your Facilities and Assessing Your Risks" addresses fundamental management responsibilities including planning for a secure system, organizing computer-related information, assessing…

This document discusses integrating computers logically and affordably into a school building's infrastructure through the use of wireless technology. It begins by discussing why wireless networks using mobile computers are preferable to desktop machines in each classoom. It then explains the features of a wireless local area network (WLAN) and…

The Public Cryptography Study Group accepted the claim made by the National Security Agency that some information in some publications concerning cryptology could be inimical to national security, and is allowing the establishment of a voluntary mechanism, on an experimental basis, for NSA to review cryptology manuscripts. (MLW)

School administrators consider themselves technology leaders, but few would claim they know all there is to know. This article examines 10 concepts for technology integration in 21st-century schools: change, technology planning, ethics, teaching and learning, safety and security, curriculum, staff development, infrastructure, technical support,…

Describes the security issues Bluestem, a Web authentication and access control system under development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is designed to resolve. Provides an overview of how Bluestem works and details how Bluestem is currently being used to control end-user access to bibliographic resources licensed by the…

Java is an object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems; its benefits include platform independence, security, and interactivity. Within the college community, Java is being used in programming courses, collaborative technology research projects, computer graphics instruction, and distance education. (AEF)

Describes the state of electronic medical records, their advantage over existing paper records, the problems impeding their implementation, and concerns over their security and confidentiality. Topics include challenges for the new health care era, including managed care systems, cost benefits, lack of standards, and future possibilities.…

Describes three companies' approaches to marketing and selling CD-ROM products on the World Wide Web. Benefits include low overhead for Internet-based sales, allowance for creativity, and ability to let customers preview products online. Discusses advertising, information delivery, content, information services, and security. (AEF)