Chapter 18: Network Security Management

Overview

In the advancing world of information technology, protecting private data from prying eyes is becoming more and more important. Maintaining security to prevent access to internal information is often critical to sustaining a competitive edge. In this chapter, we discuss how to impose tight security on Windows Server 2003.

When you install Windows Server 2003 right out of the box, it does not provide you with a totally secure environment. You must impose security on Windows Server 2003. This process involves executing many steps, careful planning, double-checking your settings, and a few non-computer activities. If you don't care about the security of your data, you can skip this discussion entirely.

KEY CONCEPT 

The goal of security is not to create a system that's impossible for a hacker or misguided user to compromise. Instead, the goal is to maintain a sufficient barrier against intruders so the difficulty they encounter while attempting to access your system is significantly more than someone else's system. It's kind of like building a brick wall around your yard so tall that it discourages someone from climbing your wall so they go climb your neighbor's instead. Your goal is to convince the hacker to attack an easier target. By following the prescriptions in this chapter, you can deploy a Windows Server 2003 system that's not only harder to crack than your neighbors' but also nearly watertight!

Protecting proprietary and private electronic property is not only a defense against outside attackers , but it also involves erecting a barrier against inside assaults and taking precautions against other threats to your data.