Cybersecurity Monitoring

If there ever was a time that network administrators could safely lean on firewalls to keep the "baddies" out of the computer network, that time is no longer. Hacking, cyber-spying and cyber-theft have expanded to affect all manner of organizations, large and small, public and private, commercial and non-commercial. Schools, colleges and universities are just as affected by the growing tide of hacks and malware as every other segment of the economy, with the added headache of policing improper network usage (read: illegal downloads and file sharing). Network and data security are especially important for schools, where thousands of sensitive personal records (including social security numbers, addresses, names, phone numbers and other personally identifiable information) as well as proprietary and research data reside on network connected computers, servers and databases. A breach into the electronic gradebook records system alone affects an institution’s educational integrity.

In addition to threats seeking to steal data from without, schools must also contend with insider (i.e., student) misuse of network resources. This can range from exposing school computing equipment to malware, botnets and viruses to downloading and storing illegal and/or pirated content on school servers to running botnets and DoS/DDoS attacks on outside institutions.

In this environment the network administrators need to know what is happening on the networks, both coming and going out. Strategically placed packet capture appliances can record the network activities to and from critical equipment, databases and other neworked equipment. IPCopper captures and retains records of suspicious network activity, so that in the event of a breach or network event, network administrators have the information necessarily to examine exactly what happened before, during and after any such event and conduct thorough and effective network forensics. If any data enters or leaves the premises via the network, IPCopper would know.

Student Privacy

FERPA charges schools and other educational institutions with the responsibility of keeping student records safe and confidential. According to the US Department of Education:

"Students and their parents should expect that their personal information is safe, properly collected and maintained and that it is used only for appropriate purposes and not improperly redisclosed. It is imperative to protect students’ privacy to avoid discrimination, identity theft or other malicious and damaging criminal acts. All education data holders must act responsibly and be held accountable for safeguarding students’ personally identifiable information…." (US Department of Education, Safeguarding Student Privacy)

Schools and other educational organizations increasingly digitize, store and share students' private financial and educational records electronically. This emphasizes the need for articulating privacy protections and taking concrete steps to achieve data security and insight into the activities on the network on which schools place these sensitive records. Not knowing that a data breach has occurred or is in progress is no defense against the headaches and liabilities that arise for every compromised record.

IPCopper Security Features

IPCopper packet capture appliances incorporate a number of security features to safeguard the privacy of captured network data. These include:

• 20,000 bit, always-on dual encryption
• Stealthy network profile
• Tamperproof 12 ga. metal enclosure
• Download data via secure, encrypted connection

Regardless of where it is placed, IPCopper packet capture appliances securely and unobtrusively record Ethernet / IP packets and keep the data safe with a combination of integrated security features. With IPCopper you can monitor your network and protect student privacy.

Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

IPCopper packet capture appliances also aid in troubleshooting networking issues, such as internet and router configurations by showing the exact IP transmissions, without distortion or alteration.

• Record all internet packets, either as tap or pass-through.
• Use IPCopper with any network device, including computers, printers, routers, servers — any device that uses Ethernet framing for communication, regardless of the higher-level protocol (IP, ARP, SMTP, POP, etc.).
• Record communications and monitor single or multiple pieces of equipment with one device.
• Data gathering tool for network forensics
• Log access to databases, servers and other sensitive networked equipment
• Unsurpassed network traffic collection and recording

As one of the most lightweight packet capture appliances on the market, IPCopper is also extremely portable, making it easy to take to any problem network nodes and install as needed.

IPCopper in the Classroom

With their compact footprints and ease of use, IPCopper packet capture appliances can also play a role in the classroom, for IT classes focussed on networking and cybersecurity. With IPCopper, students can capture and analyze real life data and gain genuine hands-on experience with how networking works at the down to the Ethernet / packet level and how packet level analysis and network traffic and flow analysis can aid in catching cybersecurity threats and improving cybersecurity postures.

Special pricing is available for in-classroom deployments. Please contact us for details.