Security Features of Network Connections

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Security features of Network Connections

You can configure your dial-up, virtual private network (VPN), broadband, and direct connections to enforce various levels of password authentication and data encryption. Authentication methods range from unencrypted to custom, using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). EAP provides an infrastructure to support a wide range of authentication methods, including smart cards, certificates, one-time passwords, and public keys. You can also specify the type of data encryption, depending on the level of password authentication (MS-CHAP, MS-CHAP v2, or EAP-TLS) that you select. Finally, you can configure callback options to increase dial-up security.

User accounts and domains provide security with encrypted authentication and encrypted data. For more information about security, see Security.

This section covers:

• Callback

• How security works at connection

• Group Policy for Network Connections

• Group Policy settings that prohibit home and small office networking on your domain

• Dial-up credentials

• Data Encryption and Encryption Methods

• Network Authentication