Hardening Windows, Second Edition (Paperback)

~ Jonathan Hassell (Author)
Key Phrases: group policies, default domain policy, custom actions, Group Policy, Service Name, Windows Server (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Hardening is the process of protecting a system against unknown threats. System administrators harden against that which they think could be a threat. Administrators know the Internet is a hostile environment. Although they can’t tell, for example, that a hacker will attempt to gain access to the SQL server next Tuesday, they can bet money there’ll be an attempt soon and should "batten down the hatches" in anticipation.

Hardening Windows, Second Edition is the definitive "counterintelligence" guide to performing preventative security measures for the Windows OS. This second edition covers the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 and its new security features, including the Windows Firewall and the Security Center. It also covers Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, Windows Server R2's new Security Configuration Wizard, Windows NT, Windows 2000, branch-office security features, and new setup options. A new chapter has been added on Windows Software Update Services. All chapters have been updated to reflect reader feedback from the first edition. Topics covered include system and group policies, Network Access Quarantine Control, auditing and event logs, IIS, and Exchange.

About the Author

Jonathan Hassell is a systems administrator and IT consultant residing in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is currently employed by one of the largest departments on campus at North Carolina State University, supporting a computing environment that consists of Windows NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Sun Solaris, and HP-UX machines. Hassell has extensive experience in networking technologies and Internet connectivity. He currently runs his own web hosting business, Enable Hosting, based out of both Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Jonathan's previously published work includes RADIUS, which serves as a detailed guide to the RADIUS authentication protocol and offers suggestions for implementing RADIUS and overall network security.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 2 Revised edition (October 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590595394
• ISBN-13: 978-1590595398
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,694,897 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Redocument Commonly Known Tools, February 24, 2006

By	Joaquin Menchaca (San José, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I investigated this book as I was impressed with Apress' Hardening Linux, and so I thought that this would be of the same caliber. The book was rather thin, so I assumed that this would packed full of potent content, but nopem, this book is a rehash of very basic material well over-documented from many sources.

I liked how Chapter 2 through 5 were organized by operating system, but inside these chapters was nothing new or insightful about the architectures, such built-in automatic accounts that services run under. Hassell documents common well known features in these chapters: system policy editor, GPO, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, RunAs, ICF, and Windows Firewall. Other chapters he covers is WSUS vs. SMS, IIS, Exchange, and Auditing and Event Logs.

In the scope of hardening a Windows system, I would have expected advanced material to utilize for example Windows Firewall in-conjunction with IPSec filters or securing services in case they are exploited, e.g. changing the DACLs or using custom security templates. I would have also expected more advanced ways to secure IIS and Exchange, including using a secure PKI infrastructure.

Overall, this is a decent general survey of common place tools available to help secure Windows infrastructure, not very valuable in regards to the scope of specifically "Hardening Windows".

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book gets a "no pass", October 8, 2006

By	J. Macfarlane "Coastal Cruiser" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for $1.78 used from Amazon. I am afraid that is about what it is worth. Remarkably lacking in practical knowledge. Some information so out of date, twice I went back to the copyright page to be sure I hadn't misread the 2006 publishing date.