Home > Articles > Microsoft

Analyzing, Configuring, and Monitoring Windows NT 4.0 Security

A wide variety of advanced topics are covered in this sample chapter from MCSE Training Guide (70-244) Supporting and Maintaining a Windows NT Server 4.0 Network. The concept that binds them all together is that of security.
This chapter is from the book

Objectives

This chapter covers the following Microsoft-specified objectives for the Configuring and Troubleshooting Users and Groups, Configuring and Troubleshooting Users and System Policies, and Analyzing, Configuring, and Monitoring Security sections of the Supporting and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network exam:

  • Configure troubleshoot account policy. Considerations include password uniqueness, password length, password age, and account lockout.

  • Not all users are created equal. As a result, you need to be able to adjust account permissions and restrictions (at a domain, not a resource, level) to suit individuals or groups. Account policy enables you to control the password complexity and change policy to ensure that security is maintained in your domain.

  • Configure and troubleshoot system policies. Considerations include client computer operating systems, file locations and names, and interaction between local security policy and system policies.

    • Configure user-specific system policies.

    • Configure computer policies.

    Often you will find a need to customize the environment in which users work. This might include logon banners, wallpaper available, icons on the desktop, and Start menus. System policies enable you to easily apply these kinds of environmental restrictions to a user without having to run scripts or to configure each machine by hand.

  • Implement auditing and monitor security. Implementation includes configuring audit policy, enabling auditing on objects, and analyzing audit logs.

  • Auditing enables you to track resource access and to check for possible attempts to access forbidden resources. Configuring audit policies, enabling auditing, and doing analysis will enable you to get a good picture of resource access (both successful and failed) in your domain.

  • Analyze and configure the operating system environment and the user environment by using Security Configuration Manager.

    • Apply the appropriate security template based on server function.

    • Analyze the current environment and customize existing security templates to meet organizational security requirements.

    The Security Configuration Manager enables you to create security configurations that you can use to ensure that all your machines meet a specific minimum-security standard. It also enables you to audit the configurations of your Windows NT machines to see where changes are required. In addition, it also enables you to just apply a standard configuration to each machine.

  • Configure and troubleshoot trust relationships. Considerations include cross-domain resource access and one-way trusts versus two-way trusts.

  • In a multidomain environment, the issue of allowing users from one domain to access the resources in another comes to the fore. Trusts are the primary mechanism for allowing such access. This objective introduces you to the creation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of trusts and the resource access issues that they solve.

Study Strategies

  • The account policy section might seem straightforward. On the exam, you might not get tripped up by the mechanics of the settings. However, you could get tripped up by the implications of them. Be sure that you have a good understanding of why certain settings are important, and when you would use them. That way, if you are given questions with seemingly incidental information about the minimum or maximum password length, you can determine whether the information provided is important to the question or just peripheral data.

  • When studying for the parts of the exam pertaining to system policy, you cannot avoid opening the policy editor and creating a policy file. You will need to know the difference between creating a policy file for Windows NT machines (NTCONFIG.POL) and for non-NT machines (CONFIG.POL) as well as the path in which to save them. You also should play with the policy editor in both Policy mode and Registry mode.

  • Because the Security Configuration Manager is new, expect a number of questions on it. You need to know the GUI as well as command-line versions and what each will do. Know at least the four main switches to use in the command-line editor. In addition, be familiar with the major sections you can modify in the GUI version and how a template becomes a database and then how you can use that database to analyze and configure a Windows NT system.

  • For the trust portion of the exam, you need to understand the terminology of trusts. This cannot be overstated. Be sure you understand which is the trusted and trusting domain in a one-way trust relationship. Be sure you understand what is meant when you are told that A trusts B. Know about the intransitivity of trust relationships. Also, know the five trust models and what the basic configuration is (users in trusted domains, resources in trusting domains).

Introduction

As you can see by the chapter outline, this chapter covers a variety of advanced topics. The concept that binds them all together is that of security. In a secure environment, the following are true:

  • Users are asked to change their password frequently (account policy).

  • Users get access only to the system resources that they need to access (system policy).

  • Periodic checks ensure that attempts at unauthorized access to resources are discovered and corrected/prevented (auditing).

  • All servers are maintained at an identifiable standard of security (Security Configuration Manager).

  • The interaction between domains is controlled and done in a way so as not to compromise the security of either domain (trusts).

This chapter discusses all of these topics.

Pearson IT Certification Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Pearson IT Certification and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Pearson IT Certification products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.pearsonitcertification.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020