Firewall Wizards: Re:Vulnerability Response (was: BGP TCP RST Attacks)

["Margles Singleton" <margles_s () hotmail com>]

> I don't agree that best practices are flowing through the community. Lots 
> of folks are using stuff that isn't working well.  They don't know what 
> else is out there or how anything else other than how "their thing" works.
Speaking as a newbie, these lists are a great thing:  I "listen" to how 
experienced folks think and argue - and I learn.  I believe there are many 
folks like myself on these lists, simply listening in order to improve their 
skills and knowledge.
> gave that a shot.  Before that I thought the SANs direction (again with 
> certifications) was good. I don't know if this will work for as large a 
> portion of the population as is needed.
When I moved into security, SANS was decidedly the best thing I ever did for 
myself.  I was working for a company that had no security 
awareness/department, and I had to figure out *everything* for myself.  SANS 
gave me a road map, and a yardstick by which to measure my progress.
Something I noticed, however:  the SANS conferences draw a large crowd - but 
a very small percentage of those attending ever certify.  I think this 
demonstrates that old saw:  "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't 
make him think...."
Unless - I believe until - security can be packaged in a black box, there 
will not be tremendous gains in security.  My reasoning?  Black boxes are 
those technologies that we have faith in working without knowing why:  
microwaves, cars, and TV sets are all examples.  A NASCAR team will know the 
fine details of tuning a car, but the Great Unwashed will not:  they will 
simply turn the key and go - and this is how it should be - and I believe in 
future it will be like that for security as well.  In the meantime, I don't 
believe there is a more exciting time to be working in the field of security 
than NOW, before everything is packaged up in dull, boring, black boxes that 
anyone can utilize.
Frankly, I think all you guys and geeks are getting too easily discouraged, 
and not recognizing the great job that you are all doing - INCLUDING 
communicating....
Margles

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