Small Business Unsecure Network - Greenwich, CT | Case Study

Problem:
A small business was having issues with loosing data, icons moving on local desktops, slow internet access and passwords changing.
Actions:.
The main customer complaints were:

• Each day more and more data would disappear.
• Data would be moved from one location then re-appear in another location.
• Icons were moving on local desktops.
• Slow Internet Access.
• User names and local passwords would change daily.

The application of surface allowed the main customer complaints about existing technology to be addressed. A technical assessment was done to diagnosis what the main problem was.   After searching the local desktops and the main server it was evident that data wasn’t moved accidentally.   A local backup was being done using DLT tapes. A closer examination unveiled that the tapes were not being changed and a good backup hadn’t been done in months.   Since the client had no way of being notified there was no way to know the backup was failing. Further investigation unveiled the wireless router was broadcasting with no WEP security and the password and login was set to the default settings out of the box. It was further discovered that a VPN had been setup without the client’s knowledge as well. The main router had failed 3 months prior and the client purchased a new router at the local Staples and installed it themselves.   Since the business was in a commercial building with 30 other business’s a local user hacked into the system using the open wireless connection, established a local VPN and was slowly moving data offsite as well as moving icons on the desktop and changing user names and passwords.

Results:
The result was the router was locked down, the VPN disconnected and the wireless broadcast disabled. The local hard drives were locked down for increased security.   Since there wasn’t a good backup tape, the hard drives were scrubbed for data recovery that was unfortunately unsuccessfully.   The backup software was setup and new tapes were ordered for a 10 day tape rotation going back 3 months.