Windows Server 2008 Security Guide

Help to Securely deploy Windows Server 2008 with the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide!

Every day, adversaries are attempting to invade your networks and access your servers—to bring them down, infect them with viruses, or steal information about customers or employees.

To assist you in taking full advantage of the rich security features in Windows Server 2008, Microsoft is developing the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide.

When released in early 2008, the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide will provide IT professionals with best practices and automated tools to help strengthen the security of servers running Windows Server 2008.

The guide is now in Beta release, and is available for your review on  Microsoft® TechNet. Check out the Executive Overview by clicking here . To join the Beta program for the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide, click here.

Background on the Guide

Based on extensive experience from customers, government agencies, and Microsoft security experts, the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide lets customers choose from two pre-configured security baselines. Both configurations have been thoroughly tested in Microsoft labs, and validated by customers and partners under real-world conditions.

You can easily tailor the configuration you choose, modifying any security setting to accommodate the unique needs of their organisation.

The guide also includes a powerful GPOAccelerator tool that helps customers quickly establish, test, and automatically deploy a  tested configuration of Group Policy security settings across their organization—in minutes, instead of hours or days.

The Windows Server 2008 Security Guide provides the following benefits:

Fast, easy deployment. Customers using the guide’s best practices and automated tools have reduced deployment times by up to 80 percent.

More reliable. Automated tools eliminate many manual steps – you get faster, more reliable results.

Comprehensive.  The guide includes information on hundreds of Windows Server 2008 security settings, with recommendations for each setting.

Thoroughly tested. All security recommendations are fully tested in Microsoft labs, and verified by customers and partners under real-world conditions.

Free.  When released in early 2008, the full contents of the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide will be available as a free download from Microsoft TechNet – including the guidance, settings, templates, and automated tools.