Are you your unit's weakest link?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Cephas Franklin
  • 14th Communications Squadron commander
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) --  The host of the popular television game show "The Weakest Link" puts contestants on the spot by firing question after question at them in a timed round.

The player who best handles the pressure and answers the most questions correctly usually winds up the winner.

Let's play this game in under less stressful conditions. I'm going to ask you to answer some simple yes-or-no questions geared toward information technology.

-- Do you have your network or e-mail password written under your keyboard or in an area anyone can easily access?

-- Have you shared your network or e-mail password with anyone?

-- Did you click "yes" when the virus-warning screen popped up on your computer, instead of notifying your computer security manager?

-- Have you shared your new Common Access Card personal identification number with anyone?

-- Have you walked away from your desk while logged into the network without locking your computer?

-- Have you forgotten the name of your system administrator or computer security manager?

-- Have you loaded software on your computer without permission or approval?

-- Have you connected any items to your computer or the network without an OK from the designated approval authority?

-- Have you visited unauthorized Web sites?

Now that you've taken the quiz, here's the secret: If you answered "yes" to any of the questions, you could be the weakest link in your unit's ability to secure its part of the Air Force network enterprise.

The days of base networks being stand-alone and independent of the rest of the Air Force are no more. What you do at your base has an immediate impact on your major command's infrastructure and subsequently the rest of the Air Force.

The bottom line is we've become a network-centric entity, and each member shares the responsibility of protecting the network.

It is not just the communication squadron's responsibility. Every member of the team plays an important role in protecting this valuable resource.

A breach of network security could influence whether we strike the right target, cause innocent civilians to lose their lives or cause an international incident.

That is where every person comes in. We are the keepers of the gate when it comes to network security. It is our responsibility to understand the policies, know the procedures and know where to go for help when network security issues arise.

If we blow it, we have a negative impact on national security, we affect the Air Force's ability to perform its mission and we impact our people.

The next time you change your password, store it in a secure place. The next time your computer becomes infected with a virus, know the procedures and who to contact. When you need software for operational use, ensure the designated approval authority OKs it.

Remember, as gatekeepers we are the enforcers. Don't be your unit's weakest link. What we do does not just stop at the front gate -- it stretches far and wide across the Air Force. Make network security a part of the way you conduct business every day.