ITinfo: Windows NT/2000 Users Assessed Insurance Surcharge

Underwriter Faults Microsoft Security

Increased insurance premiums charged to NT/2000 users

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Windows NT/2000 Users Assessed Insurance Surcharge

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

Windows NT/2000 users’ insurance premiums have been raised 5 to 15 percent by JS Wurzler Underwriting Managers, one of the first companies to offer hacker insurance. Wurzler is considering also raising the insurance rates for users of Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS).

Wurzler is an influential force in this emerging market segment, and its surcharge policy is likely to be widely imitated for users who continue to use Microsoft's products in Internet operations. The surcharge is assessed following multiple reports of significant security holes in Windows NT/2000 and IIS.

Users of Linux, Apache, and other competing products are not accessed surcharges as these products are more consistently secured.

Dave's Opinion

Windows-based servers are frequently targeted by crackers. In the attempt to create full-featured (kitchen sink) software that appeals the entire mass of users, Microsoft's software engineers haven't created secure server software that's as simple to use as Linux and other competing products.

It's difficult and time consuming to fully secure a Windows NT/2000 server and keep up with the weekly patches. An organization with hundreds or thousands of servers is faced with the Niagara effect.

I use Microsoft products when they're the best option available. But for Internet servers, especially e-commerce applications, many other alternatives are available. These alternatives are more secure, easier-to-manage, and much less expensive.

Call for Comments

What do you think? Leave your comments on the message center.

References

Wurzler
Microsoft
Message Center

ICQ Servers Cracked Through Hole In Microsoft IIS
Microsoft Reports Serious IIS Vulnerability
Worm Infects Microsoft IIS and Solaris Servers
Microsoft IIS 5.0 Opens Security Hole in Windows 2000
NSA Opts High-Security Linux Over Windows NT/2000
Microsoft Webservers Laid Open For All To See
Securing a Public Windows NT Station

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updated July 7, 2001
http://dgl.com/itinfo/2001/it010707.html