TechNet Magazine: Windows Vista
Security: New Elevation PowerToys for Windows Vista
Michael Murgolo - June 2008
Michael Murgolo is back with an update to his Elevation PowerToys. You'll find enhanced Run as Administrator functionality that works with third-party scripting tools, a way to replace a handy Windows XP feature removed from Windows Vista, and many more useful tools.Security: Advances in BitLocker Drive Encryption
Byron Hynes - June 2008
Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 introduce important changes to BitLocker, including support for data volumes and improved protection against cryptographic attacks. Byron Hynes explores the new features, demonstrates how to use BitLocker on a server, and discusses some of the recent media coverage affecting BitLocker.Security: Application Lockdown with Software Restriction Policies
Chris Corio and Durga Prasad Sayana - June 2008
When you want to reduce the total cost of ownership of the desktop machines in your organization, application lockdown can be a great help, letting you limit IT issues related to unsupported applications. See how you can use software restriction policies and Group Policy to control the applications being run throughout your IT infrastructure.Security: Managing the Windows Vista Firewall
Jesper M. Johansson - June 2008
The recent update to the Windows Vista Firewall offers some impressive new features that make it a compelling choice for the corporate environment. Jesper M. Johansson gives a brief overview of the evolution of the Windows Firewall and delves into enhancements—such as new rules and profiles, domain isolation, and encryption—that will have administrators taking a closer look.Windows Vista: Top Security Features in Windows Vista
Anthony (A.J.) Smith and Ned Gnichtel - June 2008
Why should you upgrade to Windows Vista? Among many reasons, the new security features make it a must-have. This article explores some of the major security features introduced in Windows Vista.Utility Spotlight: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
Lance Whitney - June 2008
Ready to upgrade the systems in your organization to Windows Vista? Find out how the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine whether your systems are ready for Windows Vista and which versions they can support.Windows Administration: Changes to Offline Files in Windows Vista
Jeremy Moskowitz - November 2007
It's a common problem—how do you let users work with files stored on the network, when they have unreliable or no connectivity, and still avoid versioning issues? Such continuity is essential to providing a seamless experience. Discover how improvements in Windows Vista provide a better approach to working with offline files.Desktop Deployment: Simple, Scalable Deployment with BDD 2007
Adam Shepherd - November 2007
Don't have SMS 2003? Don't worry, there's another solution for creating simple desktop deployments. Here's an in-depth guide to using BDD 2007 and SQL Server to create scalable deployments that require little or no manual input.The Desktop Files: The Truth about Defragmentation
Wes Miller - November 2007
Myths about the pitfalls of defragmentation have prevented many an administrator from performing this important maintenance task. Find out which problems are real, which ones are unlikely, and how you can avoid them.Security Watch: BitLocker and the Complexities of Trust
Justin Troutman - October 2007
Some people have been skeptical of the cryptographic functionality built into Windows Vista. Here's a look at the design philosophies that went into BitLocker and why it should be taken seriously.The Desktop Files: The Power User's Guide to WIM and ImageX
Wes Miller - October 2007
Dive into ImageX, finding out about changes for Windows Server 2008 and the right way to use command switches when creating or updating WIM files.Windows Vista: Deploying Windows Vista with BDD 2007
Michael Niehaus - September 2007
Your organization is ready to migrate from Windows 2000 or Windows XP to Windows Vista, and the project is your responsibility. Don’t fret. Here’s a step-by-step guide to how you can use the Business Desktop Deployment 2007 Solution Accelerator to simplify your Windows Vista deployment.Windows Vista: A Guide to Windows Vista Backup Technologies
Christine Fok - September 2007
Backup is something many people ignore until it’s too late. But there’s no excuse for this, especially now that the new Windows Vista Backup and Restore Center offers a variety of features that make it easy to protect your data against most forms of data loss. Find out how you can plan a complete recovery strategy with Windows Vista.The Cable Guy: IPv6 Autoconfiguration in Windows Vista
Joseph Davies - August 2007
There's more to IPv6 than just extending the address space from 32 bits to 128 bits. Here's a look at how IPv6 hosts can automatically configure themselves, even without the use of an address configuration protocol.Windows Administration: The ActiveX Installer Service in Windows Vista
Rob Campbell and Joel Yoker - July 2007
How do you secure the desktop against malicious ActiveX controls without limiting application compatibility? We’ll take you on a tour of the ActiveX Installer Service (AxIS) in Windows Vista that addresses this issue with a new way to manage ActiveX controls.Security: Inside Windows Vista User Account Control
Mark Russinovich - June 2007
User Account Control, or UAC, is one of the most misunderstood new features in Windows Vista. But its goal—to enable users to run with standard user rights—can solve many security issues. Get an inside look at the problems UAC is designed to address and see exactly how this new feature works.Security: Keys to Protecting Data with BitLocker Drive Encryption
Byron Hynes - June 2007
BitLocker serves two very important purposes: it provides both full-volume data encryption and a way to validate the integrity of early startup components before Windows Vista starts. Get an overview of how BitLocker works and see how it can help you protect your organization.Security: Exploring The Windows Firewall
Steve Riley - June 2007
Mobility has changed computer threats and the techniques that guard against them. As laptops wander outside the perimeter and come back to the network, you need better ways to protect your systems. Find out how you can use Windows Firewall to protect your computers—on the Internet and on your own internal network.Security: New ACLs Improve Security in Windows Vista
Jesper M. Johansson - June 2007
While ACLs haven’t had a major overhaul, there are a number of important changes you need to know about when managing ACLs in a Windows Vista environment. Discover how 30 ACLs have changed to improve security, find out how they will impact your organization, and learn how to manage these changes in your infrastructure.Security: Managing Hardware Restrictions via Group Policy
Jeremy Moskowitz - June 2007
USB thumb-disk keys and other removable devices can make your personal life easier but your professional life harder. For improved security, you need a way to control what hardware devices your users are installing on their work systems. Now you can use Group Policy to control which devices they can use and which ones they can’t.Utility Spotlight: Script Elevation PowerToys for Windows Vista
Michael Murgolo - June 2007
While User Account Control offers an important improvement in security, the ability to elevate permissions is essential for accomplishing certain administrative tasks and functions. Here are some Elevation PowerToys that make elevation more flexible and powerful.Windows Administration: Inside the Windows Vista Kernel: Part 3
Mark Russinovich - April 2007
In this issue, we wrap up our in-depth discussion about what’s new in the Windows Vista kernel. In this final installment, we look at changes and new features pertaining to reliability, recovery, and security.The Cable Guy: Wireless Group Policy Settings for Windows Vista
Joseph Davies - April 2007
Discover how you can use Group Policy to centrally configure and distribute wireless network settings to all the computers in your Active Directory network.The Desktop Files: When I’m x64
Wes Miller - April 2007
Take a look at an implementation of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 on x64 systems, examining some of the deployment benefits and hurdles you can expect to run into. And get familiar with Windows Vista x64 support, migration, and deployment.Windows Administration: Inside the Windows Vista Kernel: Part 2
Mark Russinovich - March 2007
This month we continue our in-depth discussion about what’s new in the Windows Vista kernel. In this issue, we review some advancements in how Windows Vista manages memory and explore the areas of system startup, shutdown, and power management.Field Notes: The Doctor Is In
Matt Hester - March 2007
At a party, being an IT pro is sort of like being a doctor. Everybody has a question about a problem they've been having. But sometimes, even the experts overlook the simplest solutions.Windows Administration: Inside the Windows Vista Kernel: Part 1
Mark Russinovich - February 2007
With Windows Vista, changes to the OS kernel bring about advances in many areas, ranging from memory management to reliability to security. We kick off this series with a look at how the kernel delivers improvements in the areas of processes, threads, and I/O.Windows Administration: Gaming in a Secure Environment
Matt Clapham - February 2007
Whether you’re busy at work or doing some serious gaming at home, running as a limited user has many security benefits. Unfortunately, some games don’t want to work when they’re not run as administrator. Here’s a look at some common problems and their solutions.Windows Vista: 10 Things You Need to Know about Deploying Windows Vista
Michael Niehaus - November 2006
From more flexible image handling to a new boot loader, Windows Vista introduces some important changes for desktop deployment. Here’s a look at 10 ways Windows Vista can make your next deployment faster and easier than ever.Windows Vista: Protect Your PC with New Security Features in Windows Vista
Justin Harrison - November 2006
Developed according to the Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle guidelines, Windows Vista offers a level of security not built into earlier versions of Windows. Take a look at the new and enhanced features Windows Vista offers to help you detect and prevent security threats.Windows Vista: Achieve the Non-Admin Dream with User Account Control
Alex Heaton - November 2006
While limiting user privileges is a good way to help protect your systems, non-admin accounts can be inconvenient, introducing problems such as application compatibility issues. Windows Vista offers new features that make it easier for you to manage and support standard user accountsWindows Vista: Enterprise Networking with Windows Vista
Jason Leznek - November 2006
Since the release of Windows XP, networking has changed drastically—users are more mobile, wireless networking is everywhere, and security threats are more sophisticated. Take a look at the innovations in Windows Vista that make networking simpler, more secure, and easier to manage.Windows Vista: Getting Ready for Windows PE 2.0
Wes Miller - November 2006
Along with Windows Vista, a more powerful version of Windows PE will be released. This overview discusses the new features and capabilities found in Windows PE 2.0 and how these changes will affect youWindows Vista: Inside the New Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit
John Melton - November 2006
Before you deploy a new OS, it's critical that you determine potential compatibility issues and solutions for the many applications your organization relies on. Here's an in-depth look at how you can access your software portfolio, determine the impact Windows Vista will have on applications, and find solutions for potential issues.Windows Vista: New Tools for Event Management in Windows Vista
Val Menn - November 2006
Windows Vista presents a giant step forward in enterprise management, offering a new and improved infrastructure and tools designed for event logging and tracing. The result is easier, more powerful ways to gather information and quickly perform troubleshooting.Windows Vista: More Powerful Group Policy in Windows Vista
Jeremy Moskowitz - November 2006
The Group Policy infrastructure has been overhauled, delivering new management features, new policy settings, support for multiple local GPOs, and much more. This article looks under the hood at the many changes Windows Vista brings to Group Policy.[Security: First Look: New Security Features in Windows Vista](cc160980(v=msdn.10).md "Security: First Look:
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Chris Corio - May • June 2006