Re: Deepfreeze - Why not?

[Michael Sana <msana () HPU EDU>]

Kevin,

I think from a security perspective that deep freeze is just another potential layer of the defense in depth model.  
Deep freeze is not a panacea to resolve all security woes and still should be used in conjunction with good desktop 
based group policy.  I cant perceive (although I could be wrong) an organization would just install deep freeze with a 
"set it and forget mentality" without using it conjunction with the obvious security practices of anti-virus/malware 
applications, host based firewall etc.  Yes it does create a vector for malfeasance but again, assuming some degree of 
additional layers of security are in place (logging perhaps), the notion of the end user disappearing like a thief in 
the night may be mitigated to some degree.  At the end of the day, deep freeze is just like any other tool/device we 
place on the network.  It has positive and potential negative benefits and these tradeoffs need to be evaluated to 
determine if it is best suited for deployment.

With that said, we have used deepfreeze for a good decade now, but as others have mentioned have moved forward with a 
VDI implementation which creates its own sets of benefits and challenges.    Just my two cents...

mike.sana.

Michael C. Sana MSIA, CISSP, CISM, CISA
Information Security Officer
Information Technology Services Division

Hawai`i Pacific University
1164 Bishop St. Suite 900
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813
Telephone: (808) 687-7034
Fax: (808) 544-1404
Email: msana () hpu edu<mailto:msana () hpu edu>

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"


From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of 
Mclaughlin, Kevin (mclaugkl)
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 1:16 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Deepfreeze - Why not?

Hi Again Everyone:

Not trying to be a pain here, really I'm not,  I do understand all the benefits that can be obtained through this type 
of technology but this is a security forum so I'm just going to have to say this.  Apologies up-front to anyone I may 
offend or upset - that is not my intent.....

IMO - Products like DeepFreeze, from a Security point of view, basically allow a smart attacker an anonymous attack 
vector into your organization that bypasses most of your perimeter defenses.  I'm not saying that is a show stopper but 
for our world it should definitely be something that is considered and discussed in detail.  I can do what I want,  
launch my attack, pull the plug on the machine, plug it back in and restart it,  exit stage left....   Or am I missing 
something obvious that prevents this from happening?



- Kevin


Kevin L. McLaughlin,  CISM, CISSP, GIAC-GSLC, CRISC, PMP, ITIL Master Certified
Assistant Vice President, Information Security & Special Projects
University of Cincinnati
513-556-9177

The University of Cincinnati is one of America's top public research institutions and the region's largest employer, 
with a student population of more than 41,000.

[cid:image002.gif@01C879E9.E20A0EF0]

From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Rob 
Whalen
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:10 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Deepfreeze - Why not?

Putting Deep freeze on our mac labs reduced support by 80%
Rob Whalen
Network Analyst, St. Mary's College

From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Sarazen, 
Daniel
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 1:05 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU<mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU>
Subject: [SECURITY] Deepfreeze - Why not?

Hi All,

We have some folks who'd like to see Deepfreeze installed on all lab PCs, but the IT department is balking. What do 
people think is the best reason to not install deepfreeze? Is there one?

Thanks,

Dan