Re: Startup security lab setup

[HITESH PATEL <hitesh50 () yahoo com>]

1) Define the scope/purpose/requirement of the lab very clearly(possibly documented). If you do not have it clear you 
will start with something and might end up doing completely different

2) get different flavors of test machines in VM (virtual machine formats) and take snapshots of them regularly so that 
in case you end-up getting virus/malware in any of the system (due to you work/research) you can reset back to last 
good state (and save time of reconfiguring and updates/patches). 

3) Get your lab in seperat VLAN (or define network path/access control very carefully) so it is controllable. (Who can 
do what). Remember after having powerful security tools in your lab you do not want someone originating attacks to 
outside world (especially towards you competitor)

4) if you have defined scope of your lab you can think different security tools. I have seen lots of people breaking 
the scope to
- application security tools
- database security tools
- network security tools
- monitoring security tools
- general purpose security scanning tools
- operating security tools

5) In my opinion, You must have one VM (or system) hosting BackTrack (This will give you very good coverage as well as 
jumpstart)

I wish you good luck....I have gone through such exercise in past and getting scope/purpose/requirements (documented) 
is major part or the entire exercise.

-Hitesh Patel



----- Original Message ----
From: Abo Sous <abussous () gmail com>
To: pen-test () securityfocus com
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:08:40 PM
Subject: Startup security lab setup

Hello All,

i've been asked to start a lab setup for my company, with a focus on
vulnerability assessments. So far, what i have in mind includes: a
firewall unit, a couple of PCs with different OS flavors, some VA
applications (Nessus, metasploit...)
What else should i look for? what applications would you deem
indispensable in such a lab?

thanks in advance,
-AS.

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