NIST Issues Four-Pack of Computer Security Pubs

The National Institute of Standards and Technology recently issued four publications to provide computer security advice on issues ranging from securing Windows XP Home Edition® computers and exercising IT plans to guidance on access control policies, models and mechanisms, and security log management.

• Guidance for Securing Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition: A NIST Security Configuration Checklist (http://csrc.nist.gov/itsec/guidance_WinXP_Home.html) provides advice on securing Windows XP Home Edition computers for home users, in particular telecommuting Federal employees. It explains the need to use a combination of security protections and provides instructions on how to implement the most essential security protections. 
• Guide to Test, Training, and Exercise Programs for IT Plans and Capabilities (http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-84/SP800-84.pdf) provides guidance on conducting tests, training sessions, and exercises to maintain contingency and computer security incident response plans for managing adverse IT situations.
• Assessment of Access Control Systems (http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistir/7316/NISTIR-7316.pdf) provides background information on access control policies, models, and mechanisms to help organizations secure their computer applications.
• Guide to Computer Security Log Management (http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-92/SP800-92.pdf) provides detailed information on developing, implementing, and maintaining effective log management practices throughout an enterprise.