Windows Server 2003 SP1 to Feature New Security Tool
In a briefing this week with Microsoft, I (Paul Thurrott) was told that the first service pack for Windows Server 2003--due in December--will include a roles-based Security Configuration Wizard that will provide administrators with a definitive list of the services required for each Windows 2003-based server. The wizard will be based on an XML database that includes information about Windows 2003, Exchange, SQL Server, and other Microsoft products. When you configure the server to perform certain roles, the wizard can shut off any unnecessary services, taking the guess work out of what used to be a very complicated process. Additionally, the company tells me the tool can be used to shut down any ports not required by the assigned server roles, further increasing the integrity of the system.