Security Management Strategies for the CIOOur organization has come up against a couple of problems when encrypting production servers. Using TruCrypt (our current favorite) we lose the ability to do remote reboots, absent a DRAC or iLO2, as well as the ability to do any automated, middle-of-the-night reboots for updates, etc. Also, the processing overhead for the constant encrypt-decrypt cycles is taking a toll. Is encrypting these servers worthwhile? If so, what's the best strategy to mitigate these problems?
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Full-disk encryption is most useful when there is a threat of loss of data due to the device being mobile. A server is typically designed to run constantly and will not benefit from data encryption when the system is powered down, unless there is a threat from physical theft.
A combination of a good endpoint security product, which brings together antivirus/antispyware, with a host-based intrusion prevention system (IPS), rather than full server encryption software, would go a long way to keeping the server secure. Adding a file integrity monitoring product, like those from Tripwire Inc. or the free OSSEC, would provide real-time alerts on modifications to critical files on the servers as well.
This was first published in August 2011
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