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Windows 2000/XP Deployment and Upgrade Service
Built on the concepts of NT technology but
completely rewritten at a cost estimated at over $5 Billion, the Windows
2000 platform delivers the next generation of PC based technology. With
built in Web and application services, Internet standard security and
record breaking performance at a low cost, it’s simply the best
operating system for doing business on the Internet.
Windows 2000 readily scales from one or two servers with a few dozen
clients to hundreds of servers and thousands of clients. However, the
deployment of such a system has enterprise wide implications and has to be
undertaken carefully. To take full advantage of this powerful technology,
rollouts have to be meticulously planned and implemented with the correct
skill levels.
To assist clients in this process, Australian Scientific Software have
developed an approach based on best practice deployment techniques. The
recommended approach consists of the following four stages.
- Standard Security AUDIT
- Network Infrastructure Audit
- Preparation of the migration plan
- Implementation of the plan
- Implementing Windows 2000 Policies & Security
The individual elements are listed as follows:
- Server Network Security Audit
Australian Scientific Software can provide an extensive security
audit of your server that is connected to the Internet.
Powered by Nessus (winner of the Best Vulnerability Assessment Tool ,
beating out products from Symantec, ISS and NAI), our security audits
provide the most comprehensive and cost-effective
security auditing services on the internet. The audits:
- provide an external view of your network's security,
- are easy to use - nothing to download or install,
- examine your system/network with the most comprehensive
vulnerability test suite available,
- provide detailed and comprehensive report on weaknesses found
and suggested solutions,
- allow the flexibility of scheduling audits,
- include the latest vulnerability tests on an ongoing basis.
- test results individually cross referenced to more than 3000
on-line advisories and discussions regarding the given
vulnerability.
Vulnerability Test Categories
Examine your system with 1079 vulnerabililties, listed in
high, medium, low and other risk categories. The service is
regularly updated with new vulnerabilities as they are discovered,
and an optional mailing list, allows you to be aware of these as
they come available
See our Terms for a Basic or Advanced
Network Security Audit
- Network Infrastructure Audit
This useful exercise that delivers a documented map of the current
network infrastructure has produced benefits for many clients where
the exercise has been completed. It consists of the following
elements:
- Auditing of the existing network, servers and applications
- Listing the current issues with the existing model
- Listing any potential issues that could arise during the
migration
- Determining what components need to be replaced or upgraded
- Defining the project team members
- Determining if the project team has the necessary skills
- Reviewing the current administrative and helpdesk model
For a full description of the network audit process click [here].
- Preparation of a migration plan.
Great care has to be taken in the preparation of the migration plan.
This is to ensure that on cutover to the new environment, the service
levels to users are not interrupted. The plan includes the following:
- Definition of the migration strategy and its key phases
- Development of a coexistence strategy
- Definition of the potential risks that could delay its
implementation
- Defining a timetable and setting up the initial project team
meeting
- Defining any other resources required including external
- Budgeting the implementation tasks and the product requirements
- Implementation of the migration
plan.
Once the plan is understood and agreed by all parties, work commences
on the migration to the new environment. The work involves the
following elements:
- Backing up of all data and operating system elements
- Preparation of the network for migration according to
Microsoft-defined procedures
- Installation of any new Windows 2000 server(s)
- Upgrading any existing Windows 2000 server(s)
- Establishment of the root domain
- Implementation of the Active Directory Services
- Population of the Active Directory
- Migration of NT users, groups and resources
- Tidying-up and optimising Windows 2000
- Application of defined security and policy settings
- Windows 2000 Policy and Security
During the course of the migration plan, great care is taken to ensure
that the investment in the new platform is optimised and that the
network deployed is secure. It involves the following elements:
- Reviewing the existing network administration model
- Reviewing the existing security policies
- Reviewing security settings on published resources
- Identifying security holes and security requirements
- Advising on network upgrades
- Advising on possible reorganisation benefits
- Eliminating security breaches
- Defining a group policy strategy
- Locking down users desktops and network rights
- Optimising Windows 2000
On completion of all of the steps, the network is
released back to the end users allowing the company to reap the benefits
of working on the world’s most advanced PC based operating environments.
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