Restrictions in secure sites

[NickFitz]

One company (not .gov) I worked at had specifications for its most secure data centres (the ones that handled customer financial stuff like CC details) that included motion sensors in all raised floors/dropped ceilings/crawlspaces of any kind, no personal electronic devices of any kind allowed in, card necessary not only to enter any door (even internal doors) but also to exit (again, even internal doors), and even if you were responsible for the content on a server, you were still denied access to the physical machine - you could only SSH into it from a separate secure room while somebody who understood what you needed to do stood over you, watching your every keystroke. Fairly standard stuff in such a context, I would imagine.

(I, personally, wouldn't have a problem submitting my credit card information to this company, knowing what I know.)

[expat]

You're Harry Palmer, and I claim my five shillings' worth of luncheon vouchers

Five shillings? Lot of money then.

2 grades above programmer got a picture on the wall, from the civil service selection of pictures (the list was by grade of course).

Telephones weren't a problem, there weren't any. No mobiles in those days (look kids, it's not THAT long ago) and programmer grade (E.O.) didn't get one on their desk. At least every desk had an ashtray, though.

[scooterscot]

Pin code to enter your own office and a flashy red light on the ceiling when you've got visitors ....

[shelby68]

My favorite memory of working for the government whilst SC was HMRC at Southend on Sea (or better know as the chav capital of the south), we once got told off for (and I quote) "sitting in someone’s place at lunch" one of the civil servant zombies there had complained as we were sat in his favorite place in the canteen.

[gingerjedi]

Get used to not seeing anyone in the office between 8 and 10 on Friday mornings as all the permies go for breakfast… get to the stationery cupboard and fill your boots!

Watch out for Dobby.

[threaded]

Furbies, they don't like furbies in the office.

But I think that is just an excuse, 'cause I had a wondrous furbie collection and the permies civil savants were like mega jealous.

[NetworkNinja]

Crap decor I can put up with but lack of coffee

[The Lone Gunman]

generally.
SC you cant carry your kit but nobody is likely to check.
DV you cant carry your kit but somebody is likely to check.
In either case I think you will have commited a criminal offence or two if you actualy use them to copy/record anything. Same applies to introducing software onto a PC, legitimate or otherwise.

[gingerjedi]

From my experience MoD sites that require SC= Phones, internet, own coffee, microwave, shops etc... kick back and relax.

Sites that require DV= No phone, no internet, arsy permy staff with delusions of self importance, swipe pass and enter pin for every bloody door, nice but expensive restaurant.

I always assumed DV attracted a higher rate because of the relative rarity, in reality it’s so you'll put up with all the mundane BS.

[Marina]

I have, admittedly a long timne ago.

It had no coffee machine, nowhere to buy any, just a trolley that brought round coffee once in the morning, tea once in the afternoon. It was forbidden to make or bring your own.

Every document had to have 15 copies made. 9 were to file in various places, and the other 6 were to justify the cost of having our own photocopier.

The decor was battleship grey, except 1 filing cabinet that had been painted tangerine while the workplace quality budget lasted.

I'm really glad I worked there, it makes everywhere else seem like, well, a contrast.

You're Harry Palmer, and I claim my five shillings' worth of luncheon vouchers

[Marina]

A few years ago, about 1998 I think, a friend of mine who worked as a secretary in a Home Office immigration department (and quite high up as I recall - he had his own plush office) mentioned that her boss wanted some software installed or upgraded on his PC. As I had a bootleg copy, I said that would be possible in theory, hardly believing anything would come of it.

But to my amazement she said we could go in at the weekend and install it, and sure enough we both spent half an hour on his PC installing this program (I forget what it was). But I could easily have dumped the entire contents of his PC onto an external disk if I'd been inclined, and who knows what goodies it might have contained. Apparently he was as pleased as punch the next week!

[Moscow Mule]

All I remember is it taking 5 goes (minimum) to get the safe open in the morning.

[expat]

It's just the same as any other civil service job. Except maybe the decor is even more crap.

If you've not worked a civil service job before then, hmmm...

I have, admittedly a long timne ago.

It had no coffee machine, nowhere to buy any, just a trolley that brought round coffee once in the morning, tea once in the afternoon. It was forbidden to make or bring your own.

Every document had to have 15 copies made. 9 were to file in various places, and the other 6 were to justify the cost of having our own photocopier.

The decor was battleship grey, except 1 filing cabinet that had been painted tangerine while the workplace quality budget lasted.

I'm really glad I worked there, it makes everywhere else seem like, well, a contrast.

[threaded]

It's just the same as any other civil service job. Except maybe the decor is even more crap.

If you've not worked a civil service job before then, hmmm...

[NetworkNinja]

Hi Peeps,
I was just wondering what kind of restrictions you guys working on secure sites (.gov) face in terms of phones and electronic devices. I've found a sponsor willing to put me through DV clearance and wanted a heads up on what I can expect when / if I get to site.

I'm used to working in very open environments and regularly listen to music from the internet during the working day.

Am I going to get a big shock when I start?

Cheers,

NN