Perimeter Security
Access to your internal networks from external locations and external access by your internal resources needs to be securely controlled at all times. There are many products available in the market including hardware and software solutions. A combination of products can deliver the most secure environments and this security is reliant on a well designed network infrastructure at the perimeter.
ISA Server 2004
Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server is an advanced stateful packet and application-layer inspection firewall, virtual private network and Web cache product that in its 2004 guise has now proven itself to be a very effective and secure investment to rival other market leaders.
ISA 2004 extends it's advantage with the following advantages:
Integration with Microsoft Active Directory - Access to and from the Internet can be managed via group membership stored within AD.
ISA server configuration can also be stored in AD - Allowing for very quick deployment of further ISA servers or should a hardware failure occur.
Web Cache and Firewall in one product
Familiar MMC snap in for management
With the extended functionality of web cache, and VPN support ISA becomes a very flexible tool that will become the centre of your organisations security operation.
Procedural Importance
It is not just products you need to establish processes and procedures that are well documented and adhered to, for example patch management, change management and testing.
