On new OS installs, the Windows Firewall will be enabled with no exceptions allowed until after patching is completed. This feature is already built in to Windows Server 2003 SP1, and it prevents roving malware from exploiting Windows prior to patches being installed.
There will be an entirely new console, called the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, for configuring and better integrating both IPSec and the firewall. It looks to be much easier to use, requiring much less effort to configure.
Vista will not rely on MD5 or SHA-1 hashing. Since both hash algorithms have been found to have cryptographically easy collisions, Microsoft will be using stronger hashes, including SHA-256.
On the patch front, Vista supports patch-in-place features: You can patch and then reboot the box with all current applications open, and Vista will restore the current application sessions upon reboot. Of course, it would be nicer if patches didn’t require a reboot in the first place …
A new Network Center application will allow all things networking to be viewed, configured, and managed in a central location. There's also an improved NAP (Network Access Protection) client. NAP is a network access control (also known as network quarantining) client. When the server side is enabled on Windows Server 2003, NAP can prevent unauthorized and ill-configured clients from connecting to a production network. Microsoft’s current implementation of NAP is not user-friendly or overly useful in most environments.
Vista will also include the much improved Internet Explorer 7, which includes more than a dozen new security enhancements. I’ll cover them in a separate, future column. And, of course, there will be hundreds of new GPO (group policy objects) settings regarding security, but they are too numerous to cover here. I’ll take a look at these new technologies as details emerge during the year.
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
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Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
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The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
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* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
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This white paper provides guidance on how to develop a strategic approach to managing and monitoring logs, a key function required for compliance with many regulatory mandates and a critical defense against security threats.
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Learn about the processes and technologies that support security information management (SIM) operations, as well as the business case for SIM. The series examines different options for implementing SIM and gives you evaluation criteria for selecting the best option for your organization.
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Learn the strategies, actions, and capabilities that Best-in-Class organizations employ and technologies they choose to obtain superior performance against various security performance metrics. This report provides guidelines for identifying which security solutions to consume as a MSS and defines best practices for choosing and managing MSSPs.
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