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WestNet: Microsoft Windows Active Directory Setup Services
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WestNet will provide full Microsoft Active Directory setup,
maintenance and repair
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The Active Directory directory service is
used in server operating system environments to manage networks
comprising Microsoft Windows clients, Windows 2000 Server and
Windows Server 2003 servers and domain controllers, and
Windows-compatible applications and services. There are many
benefits to deploying Active Directory, including centralized
management, scalability, and the ability to easily delegate
administrative authority.
Active Directory Benefits for Smaller Enterprises
Although many organizations have completed their Microsoft
Active Directory deployment, there remain organizations that
have either not completed deployment or have yet to take
advantage of some of the important features of Active Directory.
Windows Server 2003 and Active Directory help small and medium
size organizations with a reliable working environment for the
end-users, which offers the highest levels of reliability and
performance so users can get their work done as efficiently as
possible, as well as providing a more secure and manageable
environment to make the lives of the IT staff easier.
The following sections will review the advantages of Active
Directory in these areas:
• Increasing the Productivity of Users
• Reducing the Burden of IT Administration
• Improving Fault Tolerance to Minimize Downtime
• Enhancing Security to Provide Better Peace of Mind
• Leveraging the Capabilities of Active Directory-enabled
Applications
Many clients running older operating systems find their current
systems simply not capable of meeting the expectations of their
business for a reliable, dependable, secure, or manageable
environment. While many organizations have gotten creative at
workarounds and adding in a number of add-ons and utilities to
“make do” with their current investments, Windows Server 2003
and Active Directory provide the out-of-the-box functionality
organizations need to effectively and efficiently run their
businesses.
As an example, organizations that need to meet data encryption
and information privacy requirements to meet the government
regulations of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), and Sarbanes
Oxley can purchase costly third-party add-ons for their older
operating system environments and messaging system, or the
organization can migrate to Windows Server 2003 and Exchange
2003 and take advantage of the encryption, security, and privacy
components that are built-in to these products.
Even something as simple as patching and updating systems can
become overly complex when performed through third-party
add-ins, scripting, or other tools with older operating systems.
These processes can be simplified with the tools included with
Windows Server 2003 which can be utilized to automatically
perform system updates.
Organizations that have completed their migration to Windows
Server 2003 and Active Directory have been able to realize how
much time they spent keeping their old networks marginally
operational, and appreciate the dramatically minimized
administration time and effort required for the new environment
while also seeing significant improvements in user productivity.
Increasing the Productivity of Users
In the past, system upgrades were frequently conducted for the
sole benefit of specific feature and function benefits. However,
as organizations seek to improve their competitive advantage and
business effectiveness in the marketplace, they are turning to
improvements in user productivity as a driving factor to support
the investment in technology upgrades.
This section focuses on some of the ways organizations have been
able to leverage the capabilities of Windows Server 2003 and
Active Directory to tangibly improve the efficiency in employee
tasks, and enhance employee productivity.
Active Directory Improvements in Windows Server 2008
A new "Read-Only Domain Controller" operation mode in
Active Directory, intended for use in branch office scenarios
where a domain controller may reside in a low physical security
environment. The RODC holds a non-writeable copy of Active
Directory, and redirects all write attempts to a Full Domain
Controller. It replicates all accounts except sensitive ones. In
RODC mode, credentials are not cached by default. Moreover, only
the Domain Controller running the PDC-Emulator needs to run
Windows Server 2008. Also, local administrators can log on to
the machine to perform maintenance tasks without requiring
administrative rights on the domain.
Restartable Active Directory allows ADDS to be stopped and
restarted from the Management Console or the command-line
without rebooting the domain controller. This reduces downtime
for offline operations and reduces overall DC servicing
requirements with Server Core. ADDS is implemented as a Domain
Controller Service in Windows Server 2008.
WestNet Consulting Services, Inc. - (818) 288-8282
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