MS launches security update for Windows Server 2003

Microsoft has released a major security update for Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack (SP) 1. According to the company, SP 1 is
designed to effectively reduce the attack surface of Windows Server 2003, protect system services with stronger default settings and reduce server
privileges. It includes the latest Microsoft Windows XP SP 2 enhancements, adding new features that augment security, as well as increase reliability
and performance.

One of these new technologies incorporated in SP1 is the Security Configuration Wizard, which reduces the attack surface by querying
users about the role their servers fill, and then stopping all services and blocking ports that are not needed. Another new technology, Post-Setup
Security Updates (PSSU), protects servers when they are most vulnerable -- the time between their installation and application of the latest security
updates -- by blocking all inbound connections to the server until security updates have been
installed.

Windows Firewall, a feature that Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 shares with Windows XP Service Pack 2, enables
network-wide control through group policy and serves as a host firewall around each client and server computer. Other security features in the
service pack include support for no-execute hardware, which reduces the likelihood of the broadest and most exploited avenues of information attack,
and Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 Metabase Auditing, which allows
administrators to identify potential malicious users should the store become
corrupted.

"Businesses of all sizes have a critical need to better protect themselves from the security threats that exist today, and Windows Server 

2003 SP 1 includes new and enhanced technologies built specifically to help our customers up-level their security," said Director of Product Management
in the Windows Server division at Microsoft, Samm DiStasio.

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