Information Security and OpenSSH Server

The basic premise of the information age is that information is power. The more you have, the better, but it also matters that other people don’t have the same information. Something that is widely available is no longer a valuable commodity. Consequently, any service that protects the integrity and secrecy of an organization’s information can also command a high premium. The ability to secure communications channels in this context is particularly important. There are a lot of security solutions out there, but a product that stands out, especially given its price, is OpenSSH Server.

An OpenSSH Server utilizes a suite of programs to ensure reliable and secure communications over a network of machines. The two-part name itself says a lot about the system. “Open” refers to the fact that the software suite is “open-sourced,” which is to say that the product is feely available to the public and users and developers alike can contribute to the project and its adaptation to specific needs and contexts. “SSH” refers to “Secure Shell,” which is a network protocol that enabled the creation and maintenance of secure connections. It is, in a sense, very similar to Telnet, the main difference is that the remote connections that are established are encrypted so that they cannot be intercepted. To illustrate, consider that a Telnet connection may require a login and password, but this will usually be transferred as plain text, which means they can be intercepted and used for illicit purposes. A secure shell overcomes this security weakness.

There are debates as to whether an open source program can offer the kind of quality and reliability as a more traditionally developed application. It also seems to run against the idea that security is a valuable commodity. However, the argument behind open-source applications is that due to the number of minds working on a project and adapting it to specific environments makes the process a uniquely complete and comprehensive development model. There are also ways to maintain some control by insisting that licensed versions, even if they are freely accessible, undergo centralized editing and code auditing by the parent organization.

The economic payoff is that, while the software is free, large consumers with specific needs will still require a substantial amount of support from experts and these tend to be the primary or most innovative developers. There is a world of difference between owning the software and hardware necessary to operate a network and having an administrator that can actually implement and maintain the system. Open source development projects, therefore, can secure significant economic gain.

Regardless of how you weigh-in on the open source debate, OpenSSH is respected in the tech industry for providing a secure communications environment. It is useful for maintaining Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) over the internet. An OpenSSH server can cater to multiple hosts by making it possible to maintain secure servers remotely and boasting data encryption and a full range of port-forwarding and tunneling service which provide firewall-like functionality.

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