A couple of days ago, I posted a note about concern that there was a federal
restriction against a computer in use on federal contracts being both on a
LAN and having direct Internet access.  Here's an update.

The concern turned out to be based on partial, and basically incorrect,
information: there is no such federal restriction as far as I can determine.
In fact, such a restriction would fly in the face of federal iniatives to
share data and conduct business across the Internet.

The university in question has some LANS with unrestricted, direct Internet
access and some without; the criterion distinguishing them is not the
sensitivity of the data on the LAN, but the potential for attack on
University sites from other sites on the Internet.  Only computers on
"secure" LANs can have direct Internet access.

"Secure" means either (1) the machine requires the user to positively
authenticate him/herself, or (2) a single-user machine in a private office
or controlled-access lab for which the owner is willing to accept
responsibility.

So, not to worry.

Daniel H. Snyder                            Internet xxxxxx@acnatsci.org
Administrative Director                     voice: 215-299-1065
Patrick Center for Environmental Research   FAX: 215-299-1079
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA  19103-1195