The Postal Bulletin - Help Us Save Paper and Money

The Postal Bulletin has been around for 123 years, and it's the most relied-upon, trusted source of information in the Postal ServiceTM today.

In the 1970s, when our nation became more concerned about our environment, the Postal Service began using recycled paper to print the Postal Bulletin. We have also tried over the years to print just the right number of copies to save our nation's resources.

Despite our efforts, some offices tell us that they receive too many copies. We need to do something about this.

Reducing or Canceling Your Subscription

Therefore, if you want to reduce the number of copies your office receives or if you want to cancel your subscription altogether, send an e-mail to pbulleti@usps.gov or call 202-268-5776 (if you reach a recording, be sure to leave a message with your name, telephone number, and ZIP Code). Please be assured that we will not reduce or cancel your subscription unless you ask us to do so.

As we review our subscription list, we will begin calling facilities that seem to have duplicate subscriptions. If we call your facility, please help us determine if we can reduce your subscription.

Forwarding to Other Facilities

Are you using your own labels to forward Postal Bulletins to other facilities that don't have their own subscriptions? When those other facilities close down, the undeliverable Postal Bulletins are returned to us here at Headquarters. When we receive those returned Postal Bulletins, we have no way of correcting the problem, because those facilities aren't on our subscription list and because we don't know which is the forwarding facility.

If you are forwarding Postal Bulletins to other facilities, please contact us at the above e-mail address or phone number so we can create a separate subscription for them.

Accessing the Postal Bulletin Online

Remember, each issue of the Postal Bulletin since 1995 is available online. To access the online version of the Postal Bulletin, please follow either of these routes:

• On the Intranet: Go to the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on View Postal Bulletins.

• On the Internet: Go to www.usps.com; click on About USPS & News, then Forms and Publications, then Postal Bulletin.

More Information

For more information on the Postal Bulletin, please see our article in Postal Bulletin 22097 (3-6-03, pages 5-6) titled "The Postal Bulletin - Your Source for Trusted Information."

We started publishing this article in early April, asking you to let us know if we can reduce or eliminate your subscriptions. Since April of this year, many of you have responded, and together we have reduced the total number of printed copies by 7,475!

We've come a long way, and we'll continue to evolve with the times. Our job is to make your job easier. As you know, the Postal Bulletin is here to serve you, as it has been for almost 125 years.

- Policies and Procedures Information,
Public Affairs and Communications, 8-21-03

Administrative Services

HANDBOOK REVISION

Handbook AS-805, Information Security

We have revised Handbook AS-805, Information Security, Chapter 10, Hardware and Software Security, as follows:

• Section 10-5.3.3, Using Database Servers, addresses hosting Web and database servers on the same information resource.

• Section 10-5.3.4, Combined Web and Database Servers, presents the requirements for hosting Web and database servers on the same information resource.

We will incorporate these revisions into the online version of this handbook available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on HBKs.

Handbook AS-805, Information Security

* * * * *

10 Hardware and Software Security

* * * * *

10-5 Hardware Security

* * * * *

10-5.3 Servers

* * * * *

10-5.3.3 Using Database Servers

[Revise this section to read as follows:]

Database servers must use security controls appropriate for the level of sensitivity and criticality of the information they contain. Database servers must be separate from other servers, including Web and application servers (see section 10-5.3.4 for an exception). Database servers located inside Postal Service firewalls must not be directly accessible from Web servers or other systems located outside firewalls. Database servers must not be deployed to a production environment before hardening.

[Add new 10-5.3.4 to read as follows:]

10-5.3.4 Combined Web and Database Servers

A Web server and database server may be placed on the same host if all the following requirements are met:

a. Application is not sensitive or critical.

b. Application is not Internet accessible.

c. Application is not on the DMZ.

d. Application is not enclaved with sensitive or critical applications.

e. Application is operationally standalone, that is, does not interact with other database servers.

f. Host meets Postal Service server hardening standards.

* * * * *

- Corporate Information Security Office,
Information Technology, 8-21-03

Customer Relations

Mail Alert

The mailings below will be deposited in the near future. Offices should honor the requested delivery dates. Mailers wishing to participate in these alerts, for mailings of 1 million pieces or more, should contact Business Service Network Integration at 703-292-4041 at least 1 month preceding the requested delivery dates. The Postal ServiceTM also offers electronic Mail Alerts via ADVANCE. For more information, see the ADVANCE Notification & Tracking System Technical Guide on the Internet at http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/files/advance/ADVTECH.PDF or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-458-3181.