Security Advantages of Thin Clients and Virtual Workstations

B.

Thin client architecture and virtual workstations can offer a number of security advantages when moving to a cloud-hosted environment. Let's examine each of the options provided in the question:

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

This option is correct. Thin client workstations are designed to be lean and have limited resources. They do not have local storage or peripherals that could be compromised, and they do not retain any data when they are disconnected from the network. Virtual workstations, on the other hand, can be managed centrally and can be isolated from other systems in the cloud, reducing the attack surface. Because the data resides in the cloud, it is not vulnerable to physical theft or tampering. This can reduce the risk of insider threats, as malicious insiders will have fewer opportunities to tamper with data at rest.

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.

This option is partially correct. While it is true that thin client workstations do not have local storage or peripherals that could be compromised, they still require security measures such as antivirus software and firewalls to protect against network-based attacks. Virtual workstations are also not necessarily protected by default, as security responsibilities are shared between the cloud provider and the customer. It is important for the organization to understand the security measures that are in place and to implement additional measures as necessary to ensure the security of the virtual workstations.

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.

This option is incorrect. While thin clients can use TPM (Trusted Platform Module) for core protection, not all thin clients necessarily use TPM. Additionally, virtual workstations may use vTPM (virtual Trusted Platform Module) for core protection, but this is not a requirement. Furthermore, while TPM and vTPM can provide security benefits, they are not the only security measures that should be taken into account when implementing 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.

This option is partially correct. Thin client workstations do not have local storage, so data extractions from the physical workstations are not possible. However, this does not necessarily reduce the effectiveness of local attacks, as attackers could still attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the thin client software or firmware. It is important to ensure that the thin client software and firmware are kept up-to-date and that security measures are in place to prevent and detect attacks.

In summary, option A is the most accurate answer. Thin client architecture and virtual workstations can provide security advantages when moving to a cloud-hosted environment, including reduced opportunities for insiders to tamper with data at rest. However, additional security measures should still be implemented to ensure the overall security of the environment.