Usenet system security

[Mike Van Pelt]

I just started working at a new company, (though I still
maintain the Usenet stuff at the local Unisys office,
thus the email address), and I was all set to get our
Suns up an running on the net when this virus thing hit.

My boss wants assurances from me that we won't be leaving
our system exposed to any hacker with a modem.  (Obviously,
at this point, an Internet connection is right out.)  What
security considerations do I need to deal with for a mail
connection?  What about with a news feed, are there any other
problems to deal with there?  (Other than the obvious, of 
course, make sure that everyone has a password on their
account and such.)  EMAIL and I'll summarize; messages
posted to the newsgroups may get missed, as I only get to
read netnews occasionally until I've got it on our Suns,
if and when.

-- 
Here lies a Technophobe,                 Mike Van Pelt
  No whimper, no blast.                  vanpelt at sv.unisys.com
His life's goal accomplished,
  Zero risk at last.