Microsoft to Revamp Windows Security

Microsoft Corp. is preparing a series of major changes to the security
capabilities in the Windows client and server platforms, and they will further
lock down the company’s flagship operating systems.

In separate service packs due over the next six months, the Redmond, Wash.,
software developer plans to add several security features to Windows XP and
Windows Server 2003, according to company officials here at Comdex last week.
Microsoft also plans to harden the client by turning off more services by
default.

The biggest change will be in the server product, which will get a feature
that can prevent unsecured machines from connecting to corporate networks.

The changes result from discussions that Microsoft executives have been
having with customers about ways to improve the security of the company’s
products.

The modifications won’t stop with Windows, according to officials. Microsoft
plans to add new security features to other products, including SQL Server, in
the coming months, they said.

Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003, which is due to enter beta testing in
the early part of next year, will include a function to check every device
attempting to connect to the network.

The server will query the security configuration of the device and try to
confirm that anti-virus software is running and that current patches are
installed. If discrepancies are found, the software will notify the user and
offer instructions on correcting the problems.

Administrators will have the ability to define companywide policies on what
security is required on client devices.

All this is intended to prevent cyber-attacks and other breaches and is an
extension of the overall change in the way Microsoft officials and engineers
think about security—a process that began almost two years ago when the company
launched its Trustworthy Computing initiative. In addition to working to write
more secure code, the company is working on other ways to make its software more
difficult to attack.

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