Question

An organization is considering the use of a thin client architecture as it moves to a cloud-hosted environment. A security analyst is asked to provide thoughts on the security advantages of using thin clients and virtual workstations.

Which of the following are security advantages of the use of this combination of thin clients and virtual workstations?

A. Malicious insiders will not have the opportunity to tamper with data at rest and affect the integrity of the system.

B. Thin client workstations require much less security because they lack storage and peripherals that can be easily compromised, and the virtual workstations are protected in the cloud where security is outsourced.

C. All thin clients use TPM for core protection, and virtual workstations use vTPM for core protection with both equally ensuring a greater security advantage for a cloud-hosted environment.

D. Malicious users will have reduced opportunities for data extractions from their physical thin client workstations, this reducing the effectiveness of local attacks.

Answer 1

Thin clients coupled with virtual workstations offer security advantages including fewer local vulnerabilities, diminished local attack effectiveness, and outsourced security management in cloud-hosted environments. So option (D) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the security advantages of using thin clients and virtual workstations, several points are noteworthy. Thin clients typically serve as access points to more resourceful virtual workstations hosted in cloud environments. Due to their limited local storage and processing capabilities, thin clients inherently have fewer vulnerabilities on the user end and are less susceptible to malware and local data breaches. Moreover, since virtual workstations are hosted in the cloud, security measures such as regular updates, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and comprehensive monitoring can be more effectively managed by specialized teams. This outsourcing of security management often results in stronger security postures.

Option D provides a valid security advantage: malicious users will have reduced opportunities for data extraction from their physical thin client workstations, thus reducing the effectiveness of local attacks. However, it's important to note that while thin clients offer a number of security benefits, they are not entirely immune to risks, such as those posed by malicious insiders or external attackers who may target the thin client itself or its communication with the cloud.