The Little Black Book of Computer Security – 2nd Edition does not teach you computer security. You will have to rely on other resources to teach you the nuts and bolts of information security. However, once you understand the fundamentals, Dubin’s book can be an invaluable resource to help you create an action plan and ensure you are covering all of your bases to protect your network and your data.

Dubin’s book is like a portable plan of action. Each chapter contains a few brief paragraphs with an overview of the problem and why you should protect your computer. He then provides a checklist, in outline form, that a manager can use to determine if their computers are adequately protected or identify what is missing and plug the holes.

Notes, Tips, and Sidebars scattered throughout the checklists highlight the more important information and concepts to ensure you don’t miss anything. In addition, Dubin provides references to let you know where you can find more detailed information for really important topics.

The 2nd edition of The Little Black Book of Computer Security builds on the original by including the vast changes that have occurred in information security over the past few years. Dubin includes sections specifically devoted to privacy and identity theft, regulatory compliance, and protecting Web servers from the next-generation attacks that have plagued web sites recently.

In addition, as if the checklist form of the book isn’t compact and concise enough, the book includes a variety of appendices which contain even more compact information. The list of Web Sites to Check Daily, Tools of the Trade, and Common TCP Ports are great reference tools.

There are plenty of books on all topics of computer security. Dubin’s book is unique in how it helps you apply all of the information from the other books and information resources.
Rating: 5 / 5