I've been offered to do some paid work for my dad's friend...

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: eldorado99

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Just be sure that if you're going to be a consultant to a law firm that you sell them on the idea of backing up their data to SDLT or LTO drives... They're expensive, but you need a backup solution just in case their systems come crashing down.

How many employees are there and what are they doing exactly. If you put Windows 2003 on, you'll probably have no trouble setting them up and they'll have no trouble replacing you when you want to move on. If you install linux, they'll save money and be free from getting hacked quite as often. Novell would be patching the server twice a year...if that, but not many people are still on that sinking ship. (I'm a novell admin and love it 😉) Just find out what their needs are and ask the forum what you should do. We're here to help....just cut us in on the profits....we need beer too! 😀

There are only 4 employees, luckily I'm not worried about them screwing me because the owner is my dad's friend and has been for many years. As far as I know since I havnt been there yet they just need a central file server, actually I don't think they even know what they need yet since they are pretty computer illiterate. I think I will probably go a Windows route since I only know enough about Linux to install it and play around a bit, I don't know anything about Novell either, except what it is. Windows 2003 Server is probably what they will end up getting although Windows XP Pro might even do the trick.

Then you are basically deciding their best option based on what you know and your own experiences, not the best option for them out there period... A Linux file server will work just as well as a Windows 2003 Server but will be much more cost effective...

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: eldorado99

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: BCYL
Setting up file server and computers are easy, but you have to keep data security in mind... If you are hooking the file server up to the internet, and they are a data-sensitive law firm, you have to make extra sure the server is secure... If they have a breach, they will be liable for any damages (and lawsuits)...

Something IMO a simple NAT firewall/router will not be enough...

Exactly. This isn't your ordinary small business where a few bills or invoices could be stolen, this is a law firm with very sensitive information. That's the big issue here.

I'm just wondering _why_ the fileserver needs to be connected to the internet?

I'm not sure.. maybe so they can access their stuff from home, I think I'm going to try to talk them out of it though.

As I said earlier...you are going to need VPN if you want to do that.

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: eldorado99

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: BCYL
Setting up file server and computers are easy, but you have to keep data security in mind... If you are hooking the file server up to the internet, and they are a data-sensitive law firm, you have to make extra sure the server is secure... If they have a breach, they will be liable for any damages (and lawsuits)...

Something IMO a simple NAT firewall/router will not be enough...

Exactly. This isn't your ordinary small business where a few bills or invoices could be stolen, this is a law firm with very sensitive information. That's the big issue here.

I'm just wondering _why_ the fileserver needs to be connected to the internet?

I'm not sure.. maybe so they can access their stuff from home, I think I'm going to try to talk them out of it though.

There are a bunch of people on this forum that deal specifically with network security and the issues associated with it. I'd suggest starting a thread in the Networking forum for some help.

Also, the A+ certification has almost nothing to do with data and network security, which is the main issue in setting things up for this firm.

Data security is not something you can just teach in a thread on an internet forum... It's a very complex issue, especially when dealing with such sensitive data... that's why Data Security experts/consultants get paid the big bucks doing this kind of thing...

If they are going to be downloading from the file server, then not only does the server have to be secure, the connection/channel they download through have to be secure too (so data cannot be sniffed on the wire)... then we are talking VPN and data encryption

 

[Baked]

I can see it now. "16 year old accidentally format C:/*.* law firm server." If you don't have 100 knowledge and confidence, pass the job and leave it to the professionals. If you mess it up, your dad's gonna be in deep shed.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: eldorado99

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: BCYL
Setting up file server and computers are easy, but you have to keep data security in mind... If you are hooking the file server up to the internet, and they are a data-sensitive law firm, you have to make extra sure the server is secure... If they have a breach, they will be liable for any damages (and lawsuits)...

Something IMO a simple NAT firewall/router will not be enough...

Exactly. This isn't your ordinary small business where a few bills or invoices could be stolen, this is a law firm with very sensitive information. That's the big issue here.

I'm just wondering _why_ the fileserver needs to be connected to the internet?

I'm not sure.. maybe so they can access their stuff from home, I think I'm going to try to talk them out of it though.

There are a bunch of people on this forum that deal specifically with network security and the issues associated with it. I'd suggest starting a thread in the Networking forum for some help.

Also, the A+ certification has almost nothing to do with data and network security, which is the main issue in setting things up for this firm.

Data security is not something you can just teach in a thread on an internet forum... It's a very complex issue, especially when dealing with such sensitive data... that's why Data Security experts/consultants get paid the big bucks doing this kind of thing...

If they are going to be downloading from the file server, then not only does the server have to be secure, the connection/channel they download through have to be secure too (so data cannot be sniffed on the wire)... then we are talking VPN and data encryption

I know that, but my advice is if he wants to go through with it, not if he wants to make a career out of it.

 

[eldorado99]

Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: eldorado99

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Just be sure that if you're going to be a consultant to a law firm that you sell them on the idea of backing up their data to SDLT or LTO drives... They're expensive, but you need a backup solution just in case their systems come crashing down.

How many employees are there and what are they doing exactly. If you put Windows 2003 on, you'll probably have no trouble setting them up and they'll have no trouble replacing you when you want to move on. If you install linux, they'll save money and be free from getting hacked quite as often. Novell would be patching the server twice a year...if that, but not many people are still on that sinking ship. (I'm a novell admin and love it 😉) Just find out what their needs are and ask the forum what you should do. We're here to help....just cut us in on the profits....we need beer too! 😀

There are only 4 employees, luckily I'm not worried about them screwing me because the owner is my dad's friend and has been for many years. As far as I know since I havnt been there yet they just need a central file server, actually I don't think they even know what they need yet since they are pretty computer illiterate. I think I will probably go a Windows route since I only know enough about Linux to install it and play around a bit, I don't know anything about Novell either, except what it is. Windows 2003 Server is probably what they will end up getting although Windows XP Pro might even do the trick.

Then you are basically deciding their best option based on what you know and your own experiences, not the best option for them out there period... A Linux file server will work just as well as a Windows 2003 Server but will be much more cost effective...

Well... Yeah I know, but as I said I don't know enough about Linux to install it for them effectively, so I don't really have a choice, letting my experience dictate their best choice (that I can provide for them) is sort of what my job is... I will tell them about Linux but I wont be able to provide it for them.

 

[BCYL]

OP:
In all honesty, not to put you down or anything, I don't think you are qualified for the job at hand. I would advice your father's friend to get help from a professional. You don't want to put his whole firm (or yourself) at risk to liability when you forget this one little thing and the sensitive data gets compromised (with data like this, you can be sure a lawsuit will follow if it gets leaked)....

I am sure you are fully capable of setting up a network or computers for his office, but to me data security is a much bigger issue here...

 

[eldorado99]

Originally posted by: BCYL
OP:
In all honesty, not to put you down or anything, I don't think you are qualified for the job at hand. I would advice your father's friend to get help from a professional. You don't want to put his whole firm (or yourself) at risk to liability when you forget this one little thing and the sensitive data gets compromised (with data like this, you can be sure a lawsuit will follow if it gets leaked)....

I am sure you are fully capable of setting up a network or computers for his office, but to me data security is a much bigger issue here...

Yeah thats why I sort of questioned my ability, I will probably still set up his computers and server, and do whatever I can towards his data security, but I will also tell him to get a professional in for true security, and if still he isnt worried about it then its his own choice.

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: eldorado99

Originally posted by: BCYL
OP:
In all honesty, not to put you down or anything, I don't think you are qualified for the job at hand. I would advice your father's friend to get help from a professional. You don't want to put his whole firm (or yourself) at risk to liability when you forget this one little thing and the sensitive data gets compromised (with data like this, you can be sure a lawsuit will follow if it gets leaked)....

I am sure you are fully capable of setting up a network or computers for his office, but to me data security is a much bigger issue here...

Yeah thats why I sort of questioned my ability, I will probably still set up his computers and server, and do whatever I can towards his data security, but I will also tell him to get a professional in for true security, and if still he isnt worried about it then its his own choice.

That sounds like a good plan... Let him know the risks and let him decide what he wants to do... Recommend that he gets a data security professional to ensure the data is secure... This way both you and his firm can avoid the liability too...

 

[LeadMagnet]

tell him I'll do it for my standard fee of $250 an hour a minimum of 40 hours per week and he pays my travel expenses.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: dartworth
What is the name of the firm so I know not to use them?

 

[Jpark]

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
tell him I'll do it for my standard fee of $250 an hour a minimum of 40 hours per week and he pays my travel expenses.

:Q

 

[chrisms]

Take the money and run

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: jpark932

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
tell him I'll do it for my standard fee of $250 an hour a minimum of 40 hours per week and he pays my travel expenses.

:Q

Believe it or not, that's pretty much the standard rate for consultants... Of course you will need the creditials to back it up for anyone to pay that price for ur service...

 

[eldorado99]

Well for my services I'm thinking something like 10 dollars an hour, I don't get blamed so badly if i mess up that way, and getting paid 10 dollars an hour isnt too bad for sitting on my ass moving the mouse around, but I've been thinking of charging more (where I live the minimum wage is $8 an hour.

 

[dquan97]

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
tell him I'll do it for my standard fee of $250 an hour a minimum of 40 hours per week and he pays my travel expenses.

I'll do it for $150/hr and install a VPN in that server.

 

[LeadMagnet]

Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: jpark932

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
tell him I'll do it for my standard fee of $250 an hour a minimum of 40 hours per week and he pays my travel expenses.

:Q

Believe it or not, that's pretty much the standard rate for consultants... Of course you will need the creditials to back it up for anyone to pay that price for ur service...

I design, implement, and repair SANs & WANs.

 

[daveymark]

just do what i did, accept the job, then call in consultants on their tab.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
hes approaching a 16 yr old kid to do the work for him... if it was VERY important to him he would hire a professional

Or he figures that the 16-year-old kid in question, knows about as much as the average "professional" computer tech. Which, if you're comparing a 16YO AT reader, to a BestBuy "Geek Squad" guy, is likely to be true.

I'm with the guys that suggested to "buy a Dell", and to take a profit cut off the top. (After all, you still need to set them up, right? For a small business, that should easily equate to a few hundred dollars.)

Edit: Didn't realize that this job was for a law firm, with "priviledged" information on their systems. That's a tough call. The last clients that you would want coming after you, would likely be lawyers, but on the other hand, if they are considering contracting with a minor for computer services... well that's their problem for not exercising professional "due diligence" for the job. If some future security breach happens, the axe would be on their heads, not the OP's, precisely because he's a minor, most likely.

 

[vi edit]

To echo some responses here, I think the responsible choice here is to politely bow out and allow an established security/consulting company handle this.

There are many security concerns to be had here. Going cheap and through a friend just ends up making every one bitter in the end. Spend the money the first time around and do it right.

It will keep the relationship between your Dad and his friend in good terms, it will provide the company with a proper solution, and ultimately it will keep the heat off of you.

I hate being so negative, but this is serious business with security, data integrity, and uptime at stake. The owner should not be going cheap (compared to what a "real" consultant would cost) and you DO NOT want this burden on you.

Yes, at 16 the money is pretty lucrative, but when you are in class what happens when the file server melts down and they don't know what to do?

I think everyone would come out ahead if a 3rd party was brought in to do the work.

My $.02

 

[imthebadguy]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Just use Dells. CTU uses them, so does the SGC

haha make sure u get the baller KMM

 

[Platypus]

Hopefully you'll make more than archcommus lol

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
To echo some responses here, I think the responsible choice here is to politely bow out and allow an established security/consulting company handle this.

There are many security concerns to be had here. Going cheap and through a friend just ends up making every one bitter in the end. Spend the money the first time around and do it right.

It will keep the relationship between your Dad and his friend in good terms, it will provide the company with a proper solution, and ultimately it will keep the heat off of you.

I hate being so negative, but this is serious business with security, data integrity, and uptime at stake. The owner should not be going cheap (compared to what a "real" consultant would cost) and you DO NOT want this burden on you.

Yes, at 16 the money is pretty lucrative, but when you are in class what happens when the file server melts down and they don't know what to do?

I think everyone would come out ahead if a 3rd party was brought in to do the work.

My $.02

Hit spot on with this post. :thumbsup:

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet

Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: jpark932

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
tell him I'll do it for my standard fee of $250 an hour a minimum of 40 hours per week and he pays my travel expenses.

:Q

Believe it or not, that's pretty much the standard rate for consultants... Of course you will need the creditials to back it up for anyone to pay that price for ur service...

I design, implement, and repair SANs & WANs.

Hey I'm not doubting your creditials... Just stating that with proper references that's the normal rate for consultants...

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: quakefiend420
LOL...3 out of 4 geeks reccomend dells 😀

I would took...Being someone's tech slave sucks! I have gotten calls at 3:00 AM asking me if the Internet was down because she could not log into Yahoo. :roll:

Ausm