Behind the Scenes at MIT's Network

BobB writes "MIT's head of computer networks and security gives an inside look at how the techie school is fending off hackers, cranking up its network to handle voice over IP and become a fiber network operator to link to other research institutions. From the article: 'Q - How do you actually enforce security standards among MIT's departments and network users? A - Enforce is not a word you can use at MIT. We try to entice people to do the right thing. We've made a lot of progress. We've removed the financial incentive to run your own network, which used to be cheaper than having us do it. We've been a cost-recovery network since forever now though. At many universities the network is free and they just fund it out of operating costs.'"

Comments

The main security problem

[zappepcs]

FTFA:
Q:.. I know MIT has not been immune to breaches either, but what do you think when you hear about new breaches like these?

A:.. The problem we all have is the Microsoft patch of the week. I hate to say it, but it's sort of the payback for universities not paying attention to security for decades or being sloppy about administrative computing. ....

Not that MS is the only problem, but they helped secure that mentality. I don't think Linux would have made it easier or better either. He goes on to talk about use of SSNs and other bad ideas. If only businesses would listen to this type of advice!!

Re:The main security problem

[TodMinuit]

If only businesses would listen to this type of advice!!

If only consumers would demand that business listen to this type of advice.

Re:The main security problem

[bugg]

If only ideas were evaluated on their merit, rather than based on the amount of money people can throw towards them.

"Market forces" don't guarantee smart outcomes, especially given that smart isn't correlated with wealthy.

Not a trivial change.

[Lethyos]

I looked at the old one and compared it to mine (the same type he had). The only difference was the six buttons where Home, PgUp and so forth are located are arranged vertically on the new keyboard compared to horizontally on the old one.

When I switched to a keyboard that rearranged my “Super Six”, I was distraught too. I kept hitting the wrong keys and it was annoying for some time. This is not a trivial difference for people used to not staring at their keyboards as they work.

Re:Huh?

[geekoid]

If someone wanting thwe same keyboard gives you a bad sttitude, it's not the customer, it's you.

Did you consider when using his keyboard he didn't look at the keyboard?

If this person job is data entry, then YOU were in the wrong for not anticipating then need for the same keyboard layout.

Re:Huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, it is, you nimrod.

You probably spend a ton of time picking out your gadgets or aligning things to just the way you like them, but I suspect you just throw any old thing at users and expect them to "deal with it", after all, they're just clueless anyway, right? Hey, if the user liked the keys arranged horizontal v vertical, then what's wrong with that, and why does it justify your bad attitude becuase of it?

You give us IT "professionals" a bad rep.

Re:Huh?

[eldepeche]

I can't believe someone with enough technical responsibility to replace someone else's computer would use those keys so seldom that he wouldn't care if they were rearranged. It's bad enough that my laptop isn't big enough to have them, but if they were all there and I had to look at them, I would flip out.

Re:Public IPs

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd just have to say, ok, maybe you're right...

BUT this is MIT.

'Nuff said.

If they can't figure out Linux (i.e. it's not simple enough) - maybe they should reconsider schools?

Re:Huh?

[honkycat]

What, you think because someone doesn't like something because it's different we should coddle them?

No, but people get very comfortable using their tools. Is it really a ridiculous request to keep the old keyboard? Is it really something worth mocking him over? As an IT worker, your job is to support the users, not to make arbitrary changes to their working environment. If there's a good reason that the request NOT to have his keyboard changed would create a serious problem, then he's got to adapt. Otherwise, it's just a jerk in IT going on a power trip.

Frankly, the keyboards with those 6 keys vertical bug the heck out of me, too. It's a lot harder to feel where the middle row is when it's 3-high instead of 3-wide, since my fingers are arranged horizontally on the keyboard.

Re:Huh?

[SomeGuyFromCA]

On the old keyboard those six were horizontal. On the new keyboard, vertical. In fact, the key he used was one spot to the right of where it was on the old keyboard.
 
  And the point of this key rearrangement?

Each of the three things you note is change for the sake of benefit. Automatic transmission*, direct access to the number, arbitrary number of channels.

What is the point of rearranging the six-block that you describe?

If someone said "Here's your new phone. You have to use it constantly for your job. Oh, by the way, we rearranged the numbers so they now go

789
456
123
  0

, would you just accept this change-for-the-sake-of-change, or would you want to know why the primary interface that you use to function in your job has been suddenly changed for no apparent benefit?"

Different is not necessarily better...

(*: not that an automatic transmission is automatically a benefit. Let's have the example of a "stick"-shift that has paddle shifters on the steering wheel with an automatic clutch. That's also change, but it's change with a benefit, because you no longer have to take your hands off the wheel to shift."