Third-party policy providers--including leading antivirus, firewall, policy management, patch management and networking vendors--will support the Network Access Protocol solution, Microsoft said.
The policy coordinator server enforces policies set by administrators. For example, it would prevent access by any laptop that isn't equipped with appropriate patches or critical updates. Such a solution would have prevented destructive viruses and worms, such as Sasser and Blaster, from spreading throughout many networks, according to Microsoft.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 and NAP are grouped in one of five pillars of Microsoft's next-generation security framework and are intended to provide isolation and resiliency.
Beyond NAP, the NGNZ framework under development would extend authentication in Windows past the corporate domain to any device and support roles and delegation. AppSec, which is designed to eradicate viruses and spyware, would bring application access control to Windows, providing authentication and isolation for applications entering the network, sources said.
Microsoft is still trying to make good on year-old promises to make the current Windows more secure by default. At the vendor's partner conference last October, CEO Steve Ballmer formally announced plans to release the security-focused Windows XP Service Pack in the first half of 2004 and later unveiled plans to offer features in the server code to protect the network perimeter.
To realize the benefits of cloud-native software, an application must actually be cloud-native—designed to run in the cloud, interacting with disaggregated cloud services, fully manageable as code—to deliver the expected benefits.
By combining resources and expertise, the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium will offer a blueprint for how industries can adapt to an AI-dominated future.
IT leaders should heed the guidance of cybersecurity insurance providers who think businesses should prioritize security education, incident preparedness, regular internal audits, and ongoing vulnerability scanning and patching.
