The Right Tools for the Job
HOW WINDOWS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
BY KEVIN BEAVER T
HE MORE enterprises get to know Windows 7, the more useful features they find. Among the neatest applications in the operating system are
the management tools for the Ultimate and Enterprise versions—often in combination with Windows Server 2008 R2. Here are 3 well-known favorites:
• AppLocker Arguably the most-needed application—from a security perspective—AppLocker lets you define and manage via Group Policy Objects (GPOs) exactly which executables run on your users’ desktops. It’s not unlike other third- party whitelisting tools, such as Faronics’ Anti-Executable and the Windows Software Restriction Policies, we’ve had available to us in the past. But now you’ve got a more feature-rich whitelisting/management application built right into the OS.
• DirectAccess DirectAccess is a virtual private network alternative that
allows remote users to connect directly to the corporate network without the hassles of loading a VPN client. It’s a single-user interface that connects to the Internet and an intranet at the same time. In my opinion, the coolest thing about DirectAccess is how it pushes Windows updates out any time the computer is connected to the Internet.
• Windows XP Mode Windows XP Mode is a full-blown version of Windows
XP SP3 that runs inside a Microsoft Virtual PC session in Windows 7. As long as you have a reasonable amount of memory to support it, all you have to do is download and install Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC, and you’ve got yourself a working virtual machine in no time. A great aspect of Windows XP Mode is that it enables
users to run virtualized applications. This means that programs are available for use in both a Windows XP Mode virtual session and a Windows 7 session. This is a great way to quickly set up an environment for testing application compatibility, performing security scans, and more.
© EVGENY RANNEV, ILYES LASZLO, RAVEN
CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES There are numerous other management tools like
Federated Search for network searching, BranchCache for speeding up downloads at branch offices, Reliability Monitor for monitoring and troubleshooting OS and application problems, and BitLocker and BitLocker To Go for disk and removable media encryption. I’ve always been an advocate of using what you’ve got
as long as it meets your requirements for performance, visibility, and control. The new management tools built into the high-end editions of Windows 7 may do just that. You may not be a big fan of the look and feel of Active Directory, GPOs, and similar Windows-related administrative functions, but these built-in tools are better than no tools at all.
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Directory Environment? A proper Microsoft Active Directory design is critical to a functional network and organization. Our assessment provides a detailed analysis of your existing environment with recommendations and remediation plans to reduce your total cost of ownership (TCO) and improve your return on investment (ROI).
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