There is no definitive blueprint for designing a secure network; network security has to be custom tailored to fit the needs of your network, not anyone else's.

Maintaining control over what users can do to a public access computer's operating system is one of the primary goals of a library computer administrator. For instance, patrons must not be able to use certain desktop icons such as Network Neighborhood or My Computer. They should have only limited access to Start Menu items, including applets in the Control Panel and Taskbar features. They should have heavily restricted access to the C drive. One of the primary ways to secure these features and others is by modifying the registry.

Be afraid. Threats to corporate security are everywhere. Just when you thought your network was safe from hackers, along came wi-fi - or your iPod-wielding workforce - and opened a whole new can of worms.

Best Practices for Library Computer Networks

This Handbook, funded by a grant from the infoDev Program of the World Bank Group, provides technology-independent best practices as well as recommendations for particular IT environments. The book is composed of five parts, each of which can be read independently. After an introduction to general issues of IT security, the book addresses issues relevant specifically to individuals, small and medium organizations, government, and technical administrators.