Public internet access: who is responsible?

In the first of a series of articles looking at business issues faced by IT managers, we look at the steps companies need to take if they open their networks up to visitors.

By Stephen Pritchard, 12 Mar 2010 at 12:20

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IT departments might want to create lists of banned ports, for example allowing the internet, or even voice over IP, but blocking FTP and “torrent” sites. This should be in addition to any web content filtering technology, and the proper deployment of firewalls.

As Reeves points out, some services, including those that distribute illegal content, are now quite adept at hiding behind commonly used ports such as port 80, so firewalls that can look inside the packets themselves. “Canny security people set up firewalls so they can look inside the packets, and figure out what the traffic is,” he says.

But simply segregating traffic, or scanning it at the technical level, is not enough to protect a company from possible legal action, nor to protect its bandwidth. According to Quocirca’s Longbottom, at the very least companies need to have acceptable usage policies for guest access, wired or wireless.

“For legality's sake, it is always best to give out some T&Cs, on-line, so that you can verify that at least they were put in front of the user,” he says.

“Also, if a user were to get a virus from your network, then they may have a case against you, if you gave them express permission to use the network. So, make clear in the T&Cs that it is buyer beware.”

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1 comments

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We need a universal service

To some extent we already have the answer. BT has been promoting BT FON for some time.

I like many others have created a 512k BT Openzone access on my home hub. It is available quickly for me when I need a quick temporary wireless setup (don't have to remember the WPA key) and provides a community of mutual wifi users.

There is no bigger frustration than arriving at Burger King or a pub and having to request a password from someone who hasn't a clue what you are talking about. In McDonalds you have to go through a registration process by which time my big MAC has gone cold. This all needs management that no doubt costs.

It has to be a lot less hassle and cheaper for business premises to utilise something like BT FON.

The network use is then between the consumer and BT FON whilst still providing a service to encourage trade.

Wouldn't it be great to get wifi access anywhere using the same User ID. A service worth paying a small fee for. (BT Total Braodband includes some free Openzone minutes).

If not BT FON something very similar with cross agreements between the hotspot providers which sadly went sour.

By meadmodj on Monday Jun 7