Re: Checking for AV software on students' machines

[Brian Kaye <bdk () UNB CA>]

We have been regiereing "most" computers centrally now since about 1996.
All IP addresses are statically assigned to a MAC address. We implemented
the system as we were coverting from a building/ department based  subnet
network to function based networks (staff student, resnet etc) and
converting to 100Mbps to the desktop. Unregistered computers are dropped
into a "default" vlan. Their first access to a web page gets redirected to
a registration page. They have to enter their university id and PIN. Then
the AUP is displayed and we pick up their MAC address and assign an IP
address on the network to which they are entitled.  The magic behind the
scenes configures all the switches involved. We ask them to reboot to get
the new adddress assigned (not really necessary but it makes everyone
comfortable). One advantage is that the machines are totally mobile and we
do not have to get involved in office changes or any other sort of a
change.

We have been talking about doing some scanning in this process but have
not got around to it (staff changes have left us short of labour). As
part of normal operations we do detect machines doing "bad things". These
machines are manually dropped into the "bad boys and girls VLAN"  which
cannot go anywhere off campus. When sanitized the machine is put bach into
their normal network.

As for flack about requing central registration of machines we still have
a couple of "reluctant" departments who thing they are different but for
the most part its been a great success. We get people on resnet in a
matter of minutes instead of weeks. The same is true for other new
machines. It also makes our conferencing folks real happy when they can
easily have people in conferences use the network.


......Brian Kaye
......University of New Brunswick



On Thu, 10 Jun 2004, Steve Schuster wrote:

> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2004 10:50:03 -0400
> From: Steve Schuster <sjs74 () CORNELL EDU>
> Reply-To: The EDUCAUSE Security Discussion Group Listserv
>     <SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU>
> To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Checking for AV software on students' machines
>
> 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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