Les Jones

Tech > Multi-user Access to the Hollywood Sign

From Bruce Schneieir's latest Cryptogram:

In Los Angeles, the "HOLLYWOOD" sign is protected by a fence and a locked gate. Because several different agencies need access to the sign for various purposes, the chain locking the gate is formed by several locks linked together. Each of the agencies has the key to its own lock, and not the key to any of the others. Of course, anyone who can open one of the locks can open the gate.

This is a nice example of a multiple-user access-control system. It's simple, and it works. You can also make it as complicated as you want, with different locks in parallel and in series.

Cryptogram is good stuff if you're in the network security world (and, increasingly, if you're in the physical security world, since he's started thinking about that). If you're not on the mailing list, try his new blog.