|
Vol. 12, #15 - Apr 16, 2007 - Issue #621
|
|
No More WinXP In 2008
|
- Editor's Corner
- Question: Use Symantec or McAfee on Exchange?
- Which Goodie Would You Like at Tech.Ed
- CounterSpy Enterprise V2.0 Is Close
- Quote Of The Week
- Admin Toolbox
- Admin Tools We Think You Shouldn't Be Without
- Tech Briefing
- Windows Listed As Most Secure Operating System
- Tip: Control Virtualization Chaos With VM Management Automation
- SQL Server 2005 Performance Tuning Tools A-Z
- Expert Advice: Disaster Recovery Planning
- Surviving A Compliance Audit
- Troubleshooting A Corrupt Outlook Profile After A Vista Upgrade
- Windows Server News
- No More WinXP In 2008
- Goldman Sachs: Microsoft Pushed Off Top List
- Microsoft Virtualization Products Face Delays
- Redmond Warns Of Dangerous Flaw In DNS Server
- WServer Third Party News
- WServerNews Fave Links
- This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff.
- WServerNews - Product of the Week
- BOOK: Hacking Wireless Exposed
|
Kill Image-Spam Dead with Ninja: Powerful Email Security
Ninja uses fingerprinting algorithms that generate identities from a
single piece of content that also maps to a large number of content
variants.
The fingerprint approach works very well for rich formats
like images because there is significant data from which features can
be extracted. In other words: Ninja Gets Image Spam!
Kill Image-Spam Today - Download your free 30-day eval of Ninja.
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Ninja
|
 |
Editor's Corner |
|
Question: Use Symantec or McAfee on Exchange?
Do you use Symantec Mail Security for Exchange or McAfee GroupShield
for Exchange? In that case I have a short 5-question 'point-and-click'
survey for you. This will take you less than a minute, but for us the
data is very important. Thanks so much for taking the time! The link:
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Exchange-Survey
Which Goodie Would You Like at Tech.Ed
Which Tech.Ed give-away would you prefer for the 2007 Microsoft bash
in Orlando? There would be many of these... not just one. We're at booth
915 this year and make sure to come and visit.
- $500.00 Portable/vehicle GPS
- $500.00 Digital Camera
- Xbox 360 Elite
- $500 in cash
- $500 Weekend Getaway
Vote here: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/
CounterSpy Enterprise V2.0 Is Close
At this point we're in the Release Candidate stage, all features and
functions are done. Here is a cool stat on just how much better the
CSE 2.0 agent is vs. the CSE 1.8 agent in terms of scan times. Every
night we run deep scans on about 30 workstations on the network, about
half of those machines are running a 2.0 agent and about half are running
a 1.8 agent. The quickest a 1.8 agent finishes in about 20 minutes and
the slowest finishes in about 45 minutes. The quickest a 2.0 agent
finishes in less than 6 minutes and the longest is 13 minutes. Yes,
it's just that much better. Also the amount of RAM is dramatically
lower! Want to see it in action? The info for next Tuesday's webcast
on CSE 2.0 follows:
Webcast: Preview Of CounterSpy Enterprise V2.0
Alex Eckelberry and Greg Kras will be giving a preview CounterSpy Enterprise
2.0 next Tuesday. The new features are too many to mention, but one thing
stands out: it includes our new VIPRE malware engine! If you want to take a
look, please join us: A First Look at CounterSpy Enterprise 2.0
When: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 2:00 PM (EDT)
To join the day of the event please visit:
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-CSE-V2
Meeting ID: 92SSQC
Attendee Meeting Key: XR*mw9Z
Toll free 1-888-468-4618 for North America
Toll 1-620-782-8200
Participant code: 104764
Quote Of The Week
"My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe,
why it is as it is and why it exists at all." -- Stephen Hawking
|
|
Tech Briefing |
|
Windows Listed As Most Secure Operating System
In its latest research report, Symantec noted that when it comes to
widely used operating systems, Microsoft is doing better overall than
its leading commercial competitors. The information was a part of
Symantec's 11th Internet Security Threat Report. The report covered a
huge range of security and vulnerability issues over the last six months
of 2006 (including operating systems), finding that Microsoft Windows
had the fewest number of patches and the shortest average patch dev
time of the five operating systems it monitored in the last six months
of 2006.
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Windows
Tip: Control Virtualization Chaos With VM Management Automation
Too few IT managers evaluate a very important aspect of data center
management: Automating the provisioning of virtual machines (VMs).
In fact, all IT organizations would benefit from examining automated
virtualization management in general. In this tip, SearchServer
Virtualization.com contributor Alessandro Perillitakes a look at how
this capability will become a must-have very soon, driving vendors'
product development in the next few years, and at the products available
today. (registration required)
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Virtualization-Chaos
SQL Server 2005 Performance Tuning Tools A-Z
Whether you're thinking about migrating to SQL Server 2005 or you've
already made the leap, this collection of tips from our SQL Server
experts will guide you toward optimizing Microsoft's latest version of
SQL Server. Get the scoop on new tools like Database Snapshots and SQL
OS. Learn how to optimize already existing features like SQL Profiler,
but now in SQL Server 2005. And get introduced to entirely new features
like SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and see how to expand its
functionality. (registration required)
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-SQL-2005-Tuning
Expert Advice: Disaster Recovery Planning
You don't have to be the CIO or vice president of IT to be responsible
for a disaster recovery plan. Every IT manager or team lead should have
his or her own individualized plan. In this two-part series, expert
Russell Olsen explains the disadvantages of using one-size-fits-all
templates for disaster recovery planning and how to integrate operational
tasks into your disaster recovery plan. And while you are at it, have a
look at how Double-Take fits in those plans! (registration required)
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Disaster-Recovery
Surviving A Compliance Audit
Compliance auditors are becoming more tech-savvy, and are asking IT
managers in the trenches to show and tell. Here is some advice from
managers and administrators who have been through the audit process.
This is the second article in an exclusive four-part series on how
Windows IT shops are handling the growing responsibility for regulatory
compliance. (
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Compliance-Audit
Troubleshooting A Corrupt Outlook Profile After A Vista Upgrade
After a Windows Vista upgrade, you may experience a corrupt Microsoft
Outlook profile that requires troubleshooting. In this tip, SearchExchange.com
contributor Serdar Yegulalp provides step-by-step instructions that will
resolve the problem.
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Corrupt-Outlook-Profile
|
|
Windows Server News |
|
No More WinXP In 2008
Windows XP is to to be phased out by year's end. The bell is tolling for WXP,
with Redmond's plan to stop XP OEM copies as an option for system builders.
That means this; any Windows PC bought from a retailer must come with Vista -
regardless of what the customer wants. While you can already find a multitude
of retail machines running Vista, you might still want XP, be it lack of
drivers for hardware or poor application support. In January, that'll no
longer be possible. Many businesses are still ordering machines running XP in
bulk due to concerns over Vista, so there could be some backlash if the
issues aren't addressed before then. Retail availability will probably still
last for a while afterwards, but part of the reason people choose OEM is the
cost reduction. More at:
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Windows-XP
Goldman Sachs: Microsoft Pushed Off Top List
Goldman Sachs has taken Microsoft out of its "Conviction Buy" list of the
best stocks. They think that Vista and the new Office 2007 will not sell as
well as previously expected, and that the end of shrink-wrapped software is
closer than people think. "Vista may be the last big OS developed by the
company," Goldman Sachs said. All this may be inspired by CEO Steve Ballmer
himself who recently warned Wall Street execs that some of the expectations
for Vista were way too optimistic.
Microsoft Virtualization Products Face Delays
The first service pack for Virtual Server 2005 R2 has been delayed from the
first quarter of this year to the next quarter. More at ENTMag:
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Virtualization-Delays
Redmond Warns Of Dangerous Flaw In DNS Server
ComputerWorld reported that attackers are trying to take advantage of a
newly disclosed vulnerability in several of Microsoft Corp.'s server products
that could allow them to run unauthorized code on affected computers, the
company warned. The attacks are limited so far, according to a Microsoft
advisory issued late Thursday evening. The company is working on a patch,
but no release date has been set, a spokeswoman in London said. Microsoft
just issued seven critical patches on Tuesday, which is its regular monthly
patch day, and isn't due for another round until May 8. The company issued
an emergency patch on April 3 for a dangerous animated cursor flaw. More:
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-DNS-Flaw
|
|
WServer Third Party News |
|
FullArmor Does It Again
Dave Kearns made me aware of the fact that FullArmor did it again. A pretty
interesting concept I have to admit. Dave described it as follows: FullArmor
recently announced a product that takes existing security policies which have
been created and enforced by Active Directory inside the network, and makes
them portable, enforceable and auditable when the endpoints are outside the
reach of the directory. The new Endpoint Policy Manager (EPM) makes continuous
policy enforcement possible in a mobile and network-disconnected world, a world
that - more and more - dominates the landscape we have to manage.
FullArmor EPM enforces consistent policy settings on endpoints whether they
are connected or disconnected from an enterprise's Active Directory. This
capability enables organizations to use their existing Group Policy
infrastructure to intelligently enforce endpoint policy settings as
devices drift in and out of the network. To prevent security policy 'decay',
FullArmor EPM automatically corrects out-of-compliance settings when they
are inadvertently changed. In addition, FullArmor EPM limits quarantine and
remediation events in NAP and NAC environments [i.e., Microsoft's Network
Access Protection and Cisco's Network Admission Control] by keeping endpoint
configurations locked-down.
FullArmor EPM also maintains a comprehensive audit trail of applied security
settings to automate compliance reporting for those subject to regulations
such as GLBA, HIPAA, FISMA, or PCI (you know who you are!). Unlike Microsoft's
native Group Policy reports (which only query one machine at a time and report
on expected - not actual - policy settings), FullArmor EPM pulls and compares
data from three sources to conclusively report on security policy compliance:
- Expected policy supplied by the device;
- Expected policy supplied by the directory; and
- Actual policy settings supplied by the device registry.
Your audit log thus contains exactly what security was applied - and why!
There's a lot more to Endpoint Policy Manager, of course. Click here for
all the details and also check out John Fontana's story in Network World
for a customer perspective.
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-FullArmor-Endpoints
|
|
WServerNews Fave Links |
|
This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff.
|
|
WServerNews - Product of the Week |
|
BOOK: Hacking Wireless Exposed
Secure Your Wireless Networks the Hacking Exposed Way. Defend against the
latest pervasive and devastating wireless attacks using the tactical
security information contained in this comprehensive volume. Hacking
Exposed Wireless reveals how hackers zero in on susceptible networks
and peripherals, gain access, and execute debilitating attacks. Find
out how to plug security holes in Wi-Fi/802.11 and Bluetooth systems
and devices. You'll also learn how to launch wireless exploits from
Metasploit, employ bulletproof authentication and encryption, and
sidestep insecure wireless hotspots. The book includes vital details
on new, previously unpublished attacks alongside real-world
countermeasures. Check it out at Amazon:
http://www.wservernews.com/070416-Hacking-Exposed-Wireless
|
|
|
|
|
Email me: