Re: HTTP and Web server configuration and security.

The additional value would be that HTTPS encrypts data inside your network as well.  Shops are often worried about outside access but never consider an inside threat.  Honestly, there is no reason that all HTTP traffic in a business should not have SSL enabled, even if they use a VPN.  They are not mutually exclusive.

Of course, there is also no reason that 5250 data should not also be using SSL, but that is a topic for another day.

Brian May
Director
Pre-Sales and Customer Solutions
Profound Logic Software
http://www.profoundlogic.com
937-439-7925 Phone
877-224-7768 Toll Free
  

UI Modernization. And More!

www.profoundlogic.com
      

-----Original Message-----
From: WEB400 <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Robert Rogerson
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 6:02 PM
To: Web Enabling the IBM i (AS/400 and iSeries) <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [WEB400] HTTP and Web server configuration and security.

Thanks Nathan.

On Wed, Dec 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM Nathan Andelin <[email protected]> wrote:

> HTTPS and VPN both provide transport-layer encryption. In that regard, 
> I don't see HTTPS offering additional value over VPN encryption.
>
> However, a number of shops prefer HTTPS rather than a VPN because 
> they'd rather not manage VPN credentials, or mess with VPN client 
> downloads, support, and network issues entailed in managing VPNs. 
> Shops get tired of the network device and configuration requirements 
> of VPNs, which can be especially burdensome for shops that have a 
> large or potentially large number of users.
>
> A number of shops prefer to manage user authority within IBM i or IBM 
> i applications rather than additionally within a VPN. I see 
> initiatives to downsize VPN use in favor of HTTPS.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 2, 2020 at 6:18 AM Robert Rogerson <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > I was able to create an HTTP and web services servers from the 
> > wizard.  I then created an api.  I was able to test it with Postman 
> > and everything checked out.
> >
> > The next thing I'm unsure of is security.
> >
> > I created a new user with *USER authority and no special authority  
> > I
> also
> > changed the initial menu to signoff.
> > I redeployed the web service speciying this user profile on User ID 
> > for this service.
> > I retested with Postman and it still works.
> >
> > I ended my vpn.  The api now timed out in Postman.
> >
> > So my question is, if the api is only ever called from behind the 
> > vpn is there still a big hole I'm missing?
> > Is SSL required if behind a vpn?
> >
> > Once again, your advice is very much appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks, Rob
> > --
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