Network Port Security in Prep for CCRI Published April 5, 2010 By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Command Cyber Readiness Inspection is approaching May 17 and there are still many things Tyndall members should be aware of, port security being one of them. Three months ago, someone could have walked into your office, unplugged your computer, plugged in their laptop and attempted to break into, or to infect, the base network. Due to port security implementation on Tyndall AFB, this vulnerability has been secured. Port security is an Air Force initiative that is designed to ensure each port on a network switch is assigned to a single, authorized computer. This prevents unauthorized computers from connecting to the network. However, this also means no one can move equipment from jack to jack because if a computer is unplugged and inserted into a different location, the port will become locked and the computer will not log on to the network. "Port security is basically one machine to one port," said Lt. Col. Clorinda Trujillo, 325th Communications Squadron Commander. "The intent is to secure the network so we know which machine belongs on the network and where. It also prevents someone from trying to infect or to break into the network, as well as improving equipment accountability." With port security, equipment custodians have additional security that their equipment is not moved around without authorization. If the computers are moved and become locked, the only way to get them unlocked will be to contact the 325th Communications Squadron. Users who need to move their computers to another office should submit a Help Desk ticket, or work with their equipment custodian or Client Systems Administrator, to make sure they do not lose network connectivity in their relocation. More information on how users can make their systems ready for Tyndall's CCRI will be released as the inspection approaches.