Afghan Air Force fixes computer network

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

11.30.2010

Story by Vladimir Potapenko 

438th Air Expeditionary Wing

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan Air Force with help from NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisors recently launched a program to fix the virus riddled computer network at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul, Afghanistan.

With users not utilizing responsible computing practices, the stability and reliability of the Afghan Ministry of Defense network was constantly jeopardized. Making matters worse, a lack of accountability in regards to system integrity and policy enforcement made it difficult to pinpoint where the illicit behavior was coming from and change the culture of network abuse. So, to counteract these problems, people from across the board—the AAF, NATC-A, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and civilian contractors—joined together to come up with and set into motion a four step process to clean up the system.

Heading this four pronged attack was the removal of group accounts. Group accounts made it possible for users to misuse the network in anonymity and without fear of reprisal because of its lack of individual accounting. Trumpeted by Mr. James McLaughlin, a civilian contractor, the move to remove group accounts forces users to sign into the network under their own name, which makes it easier for administrators to monitor misuse and impropriety.

With group accounts gone, the next phase of the plan was to lock down individual workstations to prevent users from deleting auditable logs. By doing so, actions on the user’s end became permanent recordable information leaving a trail of network impropriety that system monitors could easily identify. Master Sgt. Jack Wilbanks, an advisor with the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, worked closely with the Kabul Air Wing Communications Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Fazel Rahman, and network Help Desk personnel to apply the workstation policy changes.

Next, AAF Commander, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Darwan, issued a directive listing what constituted unauthorized activity on the network and the consequences associated with violating the directive. This aimed to make AAF Airmen understand what was expected of them and what would result if they did not meet those expectations; again adding strength to possible policy enforcement and accountability. AAF communications personnel consisting of Brig. Gen. Ghaws, Lt. Col. Ahad and Maj. Karim spearheaded the effort in drafting the directive.

Yet even with rules and consequences written out, officials felt that airmen needed more formal training in network security for the initiative to be successful. So, to better inform users on how to properly use the network to keep it operating properly, Maj. Sanjoy Malhotra, the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisor Group communications advisor to the Afghan Air Wing, developed a user network security training guide that the AAF plans to distribute to every airman.

A substantial overhaul of the previous system and policy, the plan to improve network use is still a work in progress.

“What we are doing is only part of the whole picture, but something we have control over and can do now,” said Maj. Robert Biggers, the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing director of communications. “We are working to implement an enterprise-level virus server that pushes out updated virus definitions to the clients and disconnects infected clients from the network to prevent contamination to other clients on the network. Additionally, since USB drives pose one of the highest risks to the computers/network, we are also working to lock down USB ports.” A lot of the work is being led by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Peter Spellman, working with CSTC-A communications, said Maj. Biggers.

The plan to improve the network is being implemented in Kabul first and officials hope it spreads to throughout the AAF, said Biggers. He believes that doing this can only help the AAF as it grows more dependent on computers.

“Today, NATC-A is putting a significant amount of effort and resources toward getting the AAF to use this technology to better support flying operations. As the AAF develops a dependency on the tools we are advising them to use, there will be serious mission impact if the network/computers become unreliable,” said Biggers.

“The Afghan Air Force is starting to realize the advantage of computers. Their commitment and involvement in solving this problem has shown a huge step towards becoming a professional, independent and operationally capable Air Force,” he said.

• Date Taken: 11.30.2010
• Date Posted: 11.30.2010 05:59
• Story ID: 61077
• Location: KABUL, AF