Introduction

This chapter presents a wide cross-section of basic information that you will be expected to know for Exam 70-291, "Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure," in regard to keeping your Windows Server 2003 servers and the network as a whole secure. Although the topic of Windows Server 2003 security is bigger than this chapter, and even this book, this chapter examines some of the starting points and easiest configuration changes that you can do to begin a security plan. Maintaining a secure network is not a one-step or one-day event; it is a daily, ongoing event that requires you to not only implement an initial solution but also to monitor it and massage it over time to ensure that new threats and required changes are taken into account. Too many times in the past, administrators have tried to treat server and network security as a "set it and forget it" type of itembut that's just not possible today. After you've completed this chapter, however, you should be well on your way to understanding the basic foundation of security in Windows Server 2003 and be ready to move forward into more advanced topics.