Keeping Windows 2000 Safe

Refer to this volume for the hardcore details on Windows 2000 security and how to manage it effectively.

This book provides clear technical explanations surrounding Windows 2000 security, getting to the meat of the issue and leaving product overviews and marketing hype behind. Instead of being a general survey geared toward the aspiring MCSE or casual reader, it's a serious technical work intended for the network administrator who needs information on Win2K security. As such, it excels.

When you open the book, the first thing you notice is a removable, cardboard quick-reference guide. Besides a catalogue of commands and switches, the author provides a list of relevant organizations and URLs. These will prove helpful should you need clarification or additional information on a topic covered within the text.

The book is organized into chapters that each cover a particular Win2K security feature. The chapter titles carry the names of these features and cover the following: Active Directory and ACLs, Group Policy, Security Protocols, Encrypting File System, Public Keys, Certificate Services, Mapping Certificates to User Accounts, Smart Cards, IP Security, VPNs, and Security Configuration and Analysis Tools. Subheadings are straightforward. Within the VPN chapter, for example, you'll find information on "Specifying A VPN Strategy" and "Configuring A VPN Server." The author clearly states what's covered and gives ample direction to find what you need.

In the book's first chapter, you're presented with an overview of Win2K security features. Each feature is thoroughly defined without delving into how to implement it. View this chapter as the foundation upon which the rest of the chapters stand.

The volume's remaining 360-plus pages provide the technical details missing in the introduction. The author goes into the specifics of the given security topic and then leads you through the mouse clicks required to utilize what's been covered in the previous pages. The step-by-step guides are helpful, and the exhaustive lists of switches and options are perfect for the tech in the trenches. The book also is cross-referenced, making it even more useful.

This volume serves as an excellent reference, and I strongly recommend it to any administrator who deals with Win2K security or AD. The technical information is detailed and thorough, and the references are relevant and useful. It's certainly a welcome addition to my library and has already provided solutions to real-world problems on more than one occasion.

About the Author

Travis Garriss, MCSE+I, MCT, owns Managed Support Services, a consulting firm. Travis specializes in Exchange, storage area networks and Internet architectures.

Featured

  • Microsoft Appoints Althoff as New CEO for Commercial Business

    Microsoft CEO and chairman Satya Nadella on Wednesday announced the promotion of Judson Althoff to CEO of the company's commercial business, presenting the move as a response to the dramatic industrywide shifts caused by AI.

  • Broadcom Revamps VMware Partner Program Again

    Broadcom recently announced a significant update regarding its VMware Cloud Service Provider (VCSP) program, coinciding with the release of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, a key component in Broadcom’s private cloud strategy.

  • Closeup of the new Copilot keyboard key

    Microsoft Updates Copilot To Add Context-Sensitive Agents to Teams, SharePoint

    Microsoft has rolled out a new public preview for collaborative "always on" agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing enhanced, context-aware tools into Teams channels, meetings, SharePoint sites, Planner workstreams and Viva Engage communities.

  • Windows 365 Cloud Apps Now Available for Public Preview

    Microsoft announced this week that Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available for public preview. This aims to allow IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.