Internet And Intranet Security

When I started to work on Internet and Intranet security a couple of years ago, the situation was comparably simple. There were some authentication and key distribution systems available that made people believe the Internet would become secure if only these systems were used and widely deployed (e.g., Kerberos). It was at this time that I wrote Authentication Systems for Secure Networks, a companion book also published by Artech House. But after having written the book, I realized that alternative techniques and mechanisms had been developed to provide Internet and Intranet security. For example, firewalls started their triumphal march that has continued until today. Also, cryptographic security protocols for the Internet, transport, and application layer had been developed, proposed, and partly implemented. Consequently, I realized that the use of authentication systems is just one possibility to address Internet security, and that there are other possibilities as well. In this situation, I decided to write Internet and Intranet Security to give a more comprehensive overview about currently available security techniques and mechanisms for TCP/IP-based networks.

The book has been written to serve the needs of computer and network professionals that have interest in understanding, establishing, and supporting secure TCP/IP-based networks. I also hope that the book provides sufficient background to help security professionals propose approaches to secure commercial applications for the Internet. The book is tutorial in nature but still requires some familiarity with the fundamentals of computer networks and distributed systems, as well as cryptography and the use ofcryptographic protocols in networked and distributed environments.

Booknews

Oppliger, expert in information technology and computer security systems, provides a comprehensive examination of the latest techniques and mechanisms used to help protect internet and intranet access and communication services. The 14 chapters address topics such as TCP/IP networking, OSI security architecture, cryptographic techniques, firewall technology, internet and transport layer security protocols, and electronic commerce and security tools. Intended for computer and network professionals. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Rolf Oppliger is a member of the Swiss Federal Office of Information Technology and Systems and performs research in computer and communications security for the Universities of Berne and Zuerich. He is a specialist in cryptographic protocols and their applications in computer networks and distributed systems. He received his Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Berne, Switzerland. Dr. Oppliger is the author of Authentication Systems for Secure Networks, also published by Artech House.