I asked a lot of folks who's opinion I highly respect about this issue.
Their opinion was largely the same as Vincent's.  You can and should
suggest, recommend, and take every chance you get to move people towards
protecting their data.  However, you still need to document what you feel
needs to be done and CYA.  In the end, if/when the system gets hacked the
security guy is a likely scapegoat.  Protect your backside and be the person
with the plan to deal with it.

For a differently worded opinion on it...
http://taosecurity.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-experience-only-teacher-in-security.html


Jason


On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 2:19 PM, Kennith Asher <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have to disagree with your approach Vincent.
>
> The point is to protect people from themselves, not point a finger after
> they've failed.
>
> Security is a tough biz since it gets in the way of most people just doing
> their job.  It's up to us to convince them that the risk of breach is much
> worse than the inconvenience caused by good security policy.  Us versus them
> is simply not the way to a more secure environment.
>
> As much as I enjoy a good laugh at the expense of an uninformed person's
> Epic Fail, documented conversation + CYA response - customer data = FAIL on
> both of you IMO.
>
> Ken
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 12:42 PM, Vincent Lape <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> document your conversation with "top buy" create a report stating the
>> issue and remediation recommendations and just wait till it gets
>> pwned. Once customer data is out there in the wild im sure they will
>> have a different outlook on the issue. Just make sure you CYA so "top
>> guy" doe snot come back and say hey that dude was responsible to
>> fixing that problem.
>>
>>
>> On Oct 12, 2009, at 10:24 AM, Soft Reset wrote:
>>
>> > Without spilling details, I told the IT team to remove an exposed
>> > web portal from the internet as it was not SSL protected and the
>> > password was easy enough to be found in my kid's "My First
>> > Dictionary".  This is the response I got back from our "top guy":
>> >
>> >  "Many people need access to the web portal.  Remember that one of
>> > the objectives is to develop a strategy
>> >   for the customer. Easier access, not harder, should be the goal."
>> >
>> > I laughed.  How about you?
>> >
>> >
>> > --SR6
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