[shawnreilly]

I think this comment is quite misleading. Your average IT Security Group within an organization is not a 'miniature NSA group'. The difference is where Data is collected and monitored.

Your average IT Security Group is focused on their own Internal network. This includes all Internal and External Traffic/Communication going to/From the Internal Network. The reality is, most Security Threats come from an internal source [1]. So yes, your average IT Security Group is interested in monitoring, analyzing, and sometimes dropping internal Traffic. This allows the Organization to track and respond to Data Breaches and Security Incidents. The overall insinuation of this comment seems to be that this is Evil and a Violation of your Privacy (Spying!). But if you've ever worked with (or used Services provided by) any Organization that has a handle on Security, you've likely signed a User Agreement Form (or similar), which clearly states what is going on. So nothing is hidden, and when you think about it, this is a logical reaction to the realities of Security in today's Digital Age. If you can't trust people, then it makes sense to implement checks and balances. Instead of thinking about it from the perspective is a User, think about it from the perspective of a Service Provider, and it makes a lot more sense. If you think this is Unjust, then the solution is simple. Provide your own services and control your own Destiny.

A 'miniature NSA group' is (presumably) focused on External Networks and External Data Sources. And I say presumably because it is not really clear what you mean by 'miniature NSA group', but the insinuation is clear. So this is very different from your average IT Security Group, and it is not correct to insinuate that they are one and the same.

[1] http://www.itproportal.com/2013/10/15/security-experts-no-su...