WindowsNetworking.com - Monthly Newsletter - October 2014
Hi Security World,
Welcome to the WindowsNetworking.com newsletter by Debra Littlejohn Shinder <http://www.windowsnetworking.com/Deb_Shinder/>, MVP. Each month we will bring you interesting and helpful information on the world of Windows Networking. We want to know what all *you* are interested in hearing about. Please send your suggestions for future newsletter content to: dshinder@windowsnetworking.com
1. Win10: Enough to Convince You it’s Time for a Client Upgrade?
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Microsoft had high hopes for Windows 8, but those expectations haven’t quite panned out as planned. As of September, according to NetMarketShare.com statistics, Windows 8/8.1 only had a combined total of 12.26 percent, considerably less than twelve-year-old Windows XP (which garnered 23.87 percent) and far less than its immediate predecessor, Windows 7, which still has more than half of the desktop market share (52.71 percent). This is despite the fact that Windows 8 has been available for almost two years at the time of this writing.
In addition, a large proportion of those machines that are running Windows 8 and 8.1 are consumers’ computers that were bought this past year with the new version of Windows already installed. The majority of businesses have resisted upgrading, and there are several different reasons given for this. One is simple and has nothing to do with the merits of the operating system itself: many companies have adopted an every-other-version OS upgrade policy, and many others tend to avoid upgrading client operating systems, especially, until the one they’re currently running is out of support. Thus we saw many businesses that didn’t move from Windows XP to Windows 7 until Microsoft dropped support for the former in April of this year.
It makes sense from a bottom-line point of view. The cost of upgrading several hundred or several thousand machines to a new OS is significant and includes not just the licenses but in some cases hardware upgrades that are required to run the new operating system, as well as a great deal of administrative overhead, lost productivity as users navigate the inevitable learning curve, and the extra burden on help desk/tech support personnel dealing with user queries and troubleshooting the problems they get themselves into until they become more familiar with the new way of doing things.
Therefore, unless there is a compelling reason to upgrade â€" such as a real killer feature that will greatly enhance the user experience or important new security mechanisms â€" companies frequently opt to “sit this one outâ€� when a new OS comes out. Even if they’re considering rolling it out, many will wait a year or more to allow for someone else to find the bugs and for the vendor to fix them.
Of course, this isn’t the only reason businesses don’t upgrade each time Microsoft issues a new release of Windows. There is also at least a perception that for a long time, every other version of the OS has been a failure, with Microsoft coming out with something drastically new and not very well implemented, then listening to consumer feedback and refining it in the next version. Windows XP was well-liked by most users after they got acquainted with it (although I can well remember the hue and cry when it first came out, mostly about its “bubble gum looking� interface). Vista was disparaged as a big flop, thanks to its resource-hogging behavior that made it run like a slow pig on less powerful machines and its in-your-face implementation of User Account Control.
Windows 7 addressed both of those complaints, and more, and was pretty well accepted by both individual users and the enterprise world. Then along came Windows 8 and upset the apple cart again. By taking away the Start button and Start menu that had been the primary basis of navigation since Windows 95, Microsoft invoked the ire and ridicule of a large percentage of its user base.
Yes, the new tiled interface worked great with tablets and touch screens, but unfortunately most business users and many home users were still working with traditional desktop machines, and the mouse/keyboard experience on Windows 8 left a lot to be desired in the eyes of most of those users. Yes, there are third party utilities â€" both paid and free â€" that can be installed to restore the Start button and menu, but many consumers weren’t aware of them and many of the more tech-savvy were annoyed at having to install an add-on to gain back the functionality that was once included in Windows out of the box.
Windows 8.1 was released close to one year after Windows 8, and was billed as a major update (i.e., more than a service pack but less than a version upgrade). It added back the Start button, but in an unsatisfying form, as the button only takes you to the hated (by desktop users) Start screen rather than producing the Start menu for which everyone was clamoring. Since it’s a free upgrade, most of those who were running Windows 8 installed it, but very few of those who were running Windows 7 saw enough of an improvement to make them decide to make the move.
On September 30th, Microsoft held an event in San Francisco, aimed primarily at enterprise customers, to introduce the next real version upgrade, which they’re calling Windows 10. Some have speculated that the reason for skipping number 9 was to put more distance between the not-very-popular Windows 8 and the next iteration, formerly known by its code name Threshold. They also made a technical preview available for public download.
Immediately, most of the tech press rejoiced. The Start menu is back, albeit in a new “Modernized� format that combines the old favorite apps and search box with a panel of Modern UI tiles that can be customized. This makes life much easier for the many desktop users who felt lost without the menu (although most of us power users had long since installed Start 8 or Classic Shell and gone about our business).
The Start menu isn’t the only enhancement in Windows 10, but it’s the one getting most of the attention. Reviews from those testing the new OS have mostly been at least cautiously optimistic. I’ve been working with it since the day after it was released and so far, I like what I see. I’ll be doing a fuller review article for WindowsNetworking.com in the near future. Meanwhile, the big question is whether there’s enough there to persuade companies that it’s time to let go of Windows 7 and take the upgrade plunge this time, when Win 10 becomes generally available sometime around the middle of next year. Write and tell us what you think.
‘Til next time,
Deb
dshinder@windowsnetworking.com
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Quote of the Month - We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive. â€" C.S. Lewis
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2. Windows Server 2012 Security from End to Edge and Beyond â€" Order Today!
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Windows Server 2012 Security from End to Edge and Beyond
By Thomas Shinder, Debra Littlejohn Shinder and Yuri Diogenes
From architecture to deployment, this book takes you through the steps for securing a Windows Server 2012-based enterprise network in today’s highly mobile, BYOD, cloud-centric computing world. Includes test lab guides for trying out solutions in a non-production environment.
Order your copy of Windows Server 2012 Security from End to Edge and Beyond. You'll be glad you did.
<http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-2012-Security-Beyond-ebook/dp/B00CMQK0OG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387293428&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+server+2012+end+to+edge+and+beyond>
3. WindowsNetworking.com Articles of Interest
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Active Directory Migration Considerations (Part 1)
Active Directory has been around a long time--since Windows 2000 Server in fact. Shortly after Windows 2000 Server was released Microsoft also released a tool called the Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) which helped you identify potential problems prior to starting your migration and even let you consolidate NT domains or convert them into organization units (OU) within the target Active Directory domain. Knowledge of the Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) and how to use it is still fundamental to any Active Directory migration process including domain restructuring and consolidation. This is the first in a short series of articles by Mitch Tulloch that examine things you should be aware of before restructuring or consolidating Active Directory domains and forests.
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/windows-server-2012/active-directory-migration-considerations-part1.html
Tips for Assigning Wi-Fi Channels
Wi-Fi is much more sensitive than Ethernet. Unlike wired networks, Wi-Fi networks are susceptible to interference from neighboring wireless networks and even noise from other RF and electronic devicesâ€"some of which you may have no control over if coming from a neighbor. Wi-Fi is also only half-duplex as wellâ€"only one device can transmit at a time on a given channelâ€"so interference-free channels and high speeds are important. In this article Eric Geier will discuss Wi-Fi channels and share tips on assigning optimum channels to your access points (APs).
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/wireless-networking/tips-assigning-wi-fi-channels.html
Working with the Desired State Configuration Feature (Part 2)
Last month, Brien Posey began this discussion by explaining that the Desired State Configuration feature is a tool that you can use to verify that a server adheres to the required configuration, and to take corrective action if configuration drift is discovered. In this article, he continues the discussion by showing you some techniques for using the Desired State Configuration Feature.
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/windows-server-2012/working-desired-state-configuration-feature-part2.html
Microsoft Azure - The Network Operating System of the Future, Today (Part 3) - Multi-Site VPN and VNet-to-VNet Connectivity
This is an ongoing series of articles by Deb and Tom Shinder, giving comprehensive coverage to some of the key features of Microsoft’s cloud operating system, Azure. Last month we talked about dedicated WAN connectivity with ExpressRoute, and this time we address multi-site VPN and VNet to VNet connectivity.
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/cloud-computing/microsoft-azure-network-operating-system-future-today-part3.html
Storage Planning for Hyper-V Hosts (Part 6)
A key consideration when planning storage for new Hyper-V hosts (or new storage for existing hosts) is the issue of security. The fact of the matter is that all software has holes in it because software is based on trust boundaries and there has to be some mechanism for crossing those boundaries. Subverting such a mechanism exposes the host to possible malware infection or exploits that can enable an attacker to take control of the host and from there launch an attack on your whole network and bring your business to its knees. It's important therefore to always follow best practices for ensuring the security of your Hyper-V hosts and the VMs that run on them. In this latest installment of his series on storage planning for Hyper-V hosts, Mitch Tullock discusses security considerations.
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/windows-server-2012/storage-planning-hyper-v-hosts-part6.html
4. Administrator KB Tip of the Month
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Use PowerShell to check the Branch Cache Hash Cache
Compliments of Ed Wilson (the Microsoft Scripting Guy), here’s a tip on how to check the Branch Cache hash cache on several remote Windows 8.1 computers.
First create a CIM session to the remote computers. Next use the Get-BCHashCache cmdlet to retrieve the information. Feed the Get-BCHashCache the CIM session. An example of this appears here:
$cim = New-CimSession -ComputerName c1,c2,c3 -Credential nwtraders\admin
Get-BCHashCache â€"cimsession $cim
That’s it!
For more great admin tips, check out http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/
5. Windows Networking Links of the Month
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What you need to know about the Gmail password compromise
http://www.networkworld.com/article/2605859/security0/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-gmail-password-compromise.html
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) grows in the data center
http://www.networkcomputing.com/storage/sas-grows-in-the-data-center/a/d-id/1315659?
Gartner says disruption set to force dramatic change in the data center
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2607018/computers-all/disruption-set-to-force-dramatic-change-in-the-data-center-gartner.html
Mobile and social shifts grow, showing opportunity
http://newsroom.cisco.com/feature-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1486404
Cisco study shows IT’s self image needs work
http://www.techweb.com/networking/240154578/it-s-self-image-needs-work-cisco-study-shows.html
6. Ask Sgt. Deb
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QUESTION:
I’m one of those people who loves to try new things. It gets me into trouble sometimes, but I always learn a lot. <grin> Anyways, I’ve jumped right into the technical previews of Windows 10 and Windows Server 10 (or whatever the server is going to be called) already â€" on a test network, not a production one, of course. I’m adventurous but I’m not nuts. Here’s my question. I want to manage the server from the Windows 10 client with RSAT. Can I do that? Thanks! â€" Logan G.
ANSWER:
Hi, Logan. You’re in luck â€" well, sort of. The Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 won’t run on the preview. The good news is that you can download a new version of RSAT for Windows 10 Technical Preview from the Microsoft web site here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=44280
The bad news is that there are several management tools that aren’t available in this version of RSAT. Those include BitLocker admin utilities, Direct Access, RAS, RDS, and the PowerShell cmdlets for Cluster Aware Updating and for Best Practices Analzyer. Also, this release only comes in U.S. English version so if you were wanting to use a different language, you’re out of luck at the moment.
If you updated a Windows 8.1 computer to the Windows 10 tech preview, the old versions of RSAT should be removed during the upgrade. Also note that you can’t install this new version of RSAT on older operating systems. Have fun playing with the technical previews and be sure to let me know what you like and don’t like about them.
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