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USB “plug and play” devices are widely use in business and SOHO environments because:
- Are easy to use
- Have quite a large storage capacity
- Provide fast data transfer
This is the nice part.
Now a few problems:
- Malware and spyware application can be stored and run from USB devices
- On a 4 or 8 GB USB drive pen you can store a few hundred documents – which can contain confidential information (intellectual property)
- The USB storage devices are small. They can get LOST easily and important data stored can be lost
- Most of the USB “plug and play” storage devices provide light or no protection. So such a device is not suitable for storing important data
And now a list of Advantages of USB ports blocking in a network:
- Protect your networks against Malware and spyware applications which might be stored on the USB devices. Considering that such devices are usually accessed (“plug and play”) on several computers: home computer, office computer and so on – this risk is quite high. On a scale from 1 to 5 we score this risk to 4
- Reduce the risk of having confidential information copied on such devices. Securing confidential information is serious job for all network administrators but by blocking the USB ports blocking this risk is seriously reduced. On a scale from 1 to 5 we score this risk to 5
Considering that there are benefits of using USB storage devices and risks we recommend to Monitor and Control (Allow / Block) USB Storage Devices activities by using an appropriate software. If you can allow a list of safe devices that can be used on all network computers and if you can verify the file activity on the trusted devices (which files were copied, deleted, renamed and so on) than the risk are definitely reduced.