Network and System Security: Chapter 8. Intranet Security

Many organizations encounter a common problem in their approach to intranet security: They treat intranets as an internal tool that is hidden deep in the corporate network and is somehow immune from external attacks. This is far from the truth, however. An intranet is basically a Web application exposed to a hostile environment the same way as the corporate Web site and therefore vulnerable to the same scope of threats. The fact that it is intended for employees and trusted parties doesn’t guarantee anything against hacker attacks, viruses, and spam. Failing to introduce a dedicated intranet security policy entails a range of risks associated with sensitive information leakage and data loss. For many organizations, safeguarding intranets is even more important than protecting their Web sites. Intranets usually contain extremely confidential assets crucial for both day-to-day activity and strategic business development. A successful attack may result in disruption of the organization’s operations, significant reputation damage, and infringement of legal regulations. To avoid unexpected embarrassment after launching an intranet, organizations must carefully evaluate the solution’s capability to cope with security issues. So, with the preceding in mind, this chapter provides information about all aspects of threats that affect intranet security. The chapter is intended for organizations that understand the changing nature of the threat landscape and what might be done to mitigate it.