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dhollander

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How secure is Windows Server 2003 Small Business Edition (Standard)

I am setting up my first server with Windows Server 2003 Small Business Edition.  How secure is it?  It will be behind a router with basic firewall (NAT, etc) and the box has two NIC's.  Are there any settings in the OS that I need to change to secure the server?  Should I be looking at a 3rd party piece of software to help with this?

Also, if my 5 or so client computers are behind the firewall and the server, do they need to be running a 3rd party software firewall (i.e. ZoneAlarm, Symantec Firewall)?
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HandyAndy Goodman
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Most servers are as secure as they are configured to be.  One of the benefits of Windows is that it's user-friendly and easy to learn.  The flip side of this is that this means there are a lot of Windows servers out there that have been configured by people not fully qualified to configure them securely.

BTW - I got a 404 not found error for your site link, HA.
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dhollander

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Do you have any sites that list how I should go about securing the server, once I have it?
Sorry about the bad link I forgot the htm
http://www.sbs-rocks.com/articles.htm

To secure the server all you need do is run the Connect to the Internet Wizard, it will open open the ports you specifically check. Other than that just make sure you are running a suitable AV Suite, personally I like Symantec Enterprise Edition with Mail Security, others in the SBS MVP group prefer Trend. Whatever you preference use something and keep it and the OS updated frequently.

If you are interested in deeper info on SBS Security try www.sbslinks.com Susan's site, she is not only an SBS MVP but also a Security MVP.
HA oops note: the line above should read it will only open, not it will open open, sorry
Also Note: If you are experminting with the w2k3 sp1 beta, DO NOT run the SCW (security configuation wizard) on the SBS server, you will break it. We highly recomend waiting for SBS SP1 which will contain the w2k3 sp1.