System Management

In the current environment of online business, and the ever increasing demands for more online access, System Management has become one of the most important elements of any business. System Management covers many functions, including Hardware / software inventory , IT Asset tracking and should always include some kind of Active directory tool / Administer directory.

As networks grow ever larger, with more access points required, it is essential to retain and Manage active directory detailing who has access to networks, their details and passwords, etc. There should also be a more focused list for Active directory administration open to a select number of users who will have more in-depth access to amend the core records of the network.

While system continually change, with upgrades, new installs and total system revamps it is essential to keep a detailed IT infrastructure library and Network software inventory. This is not necessarily to combat any wrong doing by users, more of a way of locating specific hardware and software as and when required. In a business environment where every second counts, the less time you spend on “medial” task such as locating software / hardware, the more time you have to build and expand your business.

Once you have a full inventory of all hardware and software (ensuring 100% License compliance) there are also other issues to look at such as administering a robust Password security policy, which can often come in the form of a Password policy active directory detailing all up to date password information. It is essential to ensure that all access information is Password policy compliant, using a “Password policy enforcer” such as Passfilt, which allows you to specify the format of passwords, frequency for changing passwords, and ensures that the same passwords are not re-used over a specified period. While the Password policy windows may be suitable for home use, there are a number of potential flaws for larger corporations with multiple users.

As a final check to ensure that your system us fully secured, you can use the Secedit system which compares your specific security settings against a set number of templates to ensure your protection is adequate. It is also vital that Group Policy is refreshed / updated on a regular basis to take account of new threats, or just to bring your security patches up to date with the industry standard.