[CLUE-Tech] More migration to linux

[Nate Duehr]

Collins Richey wrote:

>On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 06:53:39 -0700, Rita Gibson <rgibson57 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>  
>
>>http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39175484,00.htm
>>Car hire firm Europcar International has migrated thousands of PCs
>>across Europe from Windows fat clients to Linux thin clients, lowering
>>both its hardware and maintenance costs.
>>
>>    
>>
>
>I've always maintained that in the not-totally-unforeseeable future,
>Microsoft will be a US-only phenomenon.
>  
>
Funded by the US Air Force, apparently, according to some stuff from 
SANS a couple weeks ago where they're going to attempt to become a 
homegenous environment made up of all Microsoft products.

Never did find zoomies to be very smart about computer systems design.  
They fly airplanes well, but their CS program must really suck at the 
Academy.  From a system's perspective, they actively chose to build an 
all Microsoft shop to enhance security for national defense purposes?!

Even weirder, in SANS desire to kiss butt to any large organization that 
might need security people/consulting -- was praising the decision.  
Someone needs to lay off on the crackpipe over there...

Freaky...

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 --Air Force Enlists Microsoft to Streamline Networks, Enhance Security
(19 November 2004)
As part of its "One Air Force, One Network" strategy, the US Air Force
has enlisted Microsoft to help simplify its networks and software
contracts.  Software and support contracts will be consolidated and
"will result in standard security configurations for all Microsoft
desktop and server software" which will  be updated with necessary
patches on-line.  In addition, the move should save the agency an
estimated US$100 million over six years.
http://news.com.com/2102-7355_3-5457344.html?tag=st.util.print 
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/1115/web-afmicro-11-19-04.asp
[Editor's Note (Northcutt): Brilliant!  Work with your suppliers to
recieve the systems already configured to a safe and known state and
then use a template to return them to the proper configuration when they
drift.  This could actually work and save money; a much better concept
than the Navy's NMCI.
(Paller) This project provides proof that secure systems are less
expensive than insecure systems. There's a $100 million in savings from
consolidated procurement and at least that much again, every year, in
savings from 40,000 staff members who don't have to deal with testing
and patching.  Furthermore this demonstrates how to implement the
minimum security configuration rules of FISMA that OMB has made top
priority for agency compliance.  Major corporations will follow when the
Air Force testing proves the feasibility and effectiveness of this
approach.]

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--
Nate Duehr, nate at natetech.com