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Category Archives for "Networking"

Hyper-converged infrastructure – Part 2 : Planning an Cisco HyperFlex deployment

I recently got the chance to deploy a Cisco HyperFlex solution that is composed of 3 Cisco HX nodes in my home lab. As a result, I wanted to share my experience with that new technology (for me). If you do not really know what all this “Hyperconverged Infrastructure hype” is all about, you can […]

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SHA 2017 – bringing 100 gigabit to the tent

Every 4 years since its start back in 1989, a hacker/security conference takes place in the Netherlands. This summer, the eighth version of this conference, called Still Hacking Anyway 2017 (sha2017.org), will run between the 4th and 8th of August. The conference is not-for-profit and run by volunteers, and this year we’re expecting about 4000 visitors.

For an event like SHA, all the visitors need to connect to a network to access the Internet. A large part of the network is built on Cumulus Linux. In this article, we’ll dive into what the event is and how the network, with equipment sponsored by Cumulus, is being built.

What makes SHA 2017 especially exciting is that it is an outdoor event. All the talks are held in large tents, and they can be watched online through live streams. At the event site, visitors will organize “villages” (a group of tents) where they will work on several projects ranging from security research to developing electronics and building 3D printers.

Attendees will camp on a 40 acre field, but they won’t be off the grid, as wired and wireless networks will keep them connected. The network is designed Continue reading

Women Share Knowledge and Experience in Network Operator Groups in Africa

The Internet Society African Regional Bureau has worked with Network Operator Groups (NOGs) in Africa, providing financial and technical support to organize trainings and events at the local level. We recently shared many of their stories. There are also a number of NOGs that seek to attract women engineers to share knowledge and experience as well as to encourage young women to take up technology-related fields – which are largely perceived in the African region as “men only.” Here are their stories.

AfCHIX

Betel Hailu
Kevin Chege

Streamline the PCI Assessment Process with a Playbook

Why Create a PCI Assessment Playbook

Having gone through the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) yearly assessment process several times, I can confirm it is a fairly intensive assessment that will require a large effort from a lot people!

Each assessment the Assessors will request evidence, review documentation, ask for sample system configurations, be onsite to interview and observe personnel, and present observations or findings that must be remediated. These various assessment activities and last-minute remediation efforts can be very disruptive to all involved, and usually result in “fire drill” activities that require personnel to be pulled away from their daily tasks to react to the assessment requests.

Since the PCI assessment is very similar from year to year, and with some well thought out planning it is possible to streamline the assessment process. Just like in football, having a well thought out strategy in the form of a playbook can assist everyone that needs to know their part, or what needs to be done when. With this cylinder process in place and in the form of a PCI Assessment Playbook that everyone can follow, it can greatly reduce the stress historically associated with the assessment and attaining Continue reading