Microsoft Certified Consultants

Features Microsoft ISA Server 2004
Microsoft ISA Server 2004 is the state-of-the-art Firewall, virtual private network, and Web cache solution that improves IT system throughput and helps to secure businesses of any size from assaults by both outside and inside threats.

ISA Server 2004 offers high-level security, ease of use, and fast and secure access for all varieties of networks. ISA Server 2004 is particularly effective for securing environments that are running Microsoft applications, such as MS Web Outlook, Microsoft Internet Information Services, Microsoft SharePoint Server, MS Routing and Remote Access Service, and MS AD directory service.

MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 contains a comprehensive, application-layer firewall which protects companies of any size from attacks from both outside and internal sources. ISA Server 2004 performs deep inspection of transport protocols such as HTTP, enabling it to detect numerous threats that ordinary firewalls cannot sense. The integrated firewall and Virtual Private Network architecture of Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 enables stateful inspection of all Virtual Private Network data. The ISA Server firewalll also offers Virtual Private Network client security for Microsoft Windows Server-based quarantine solution, helping to guard networks from threats that arrive through a VPN link. In addition, a new GUI, configuration programs, templates, and a variety of administration tools allow administrators to avoid typical security implementation errors.

Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server incorporates advanced administration features to streamline critical processes including policy specification, data routing, server registration, and monitoring. Microsoft ISA 2004 builds on Microsoft Windows Server protection, directory, Virtual Private Networking, and bandwidth management. The firewall and cache can be implemented on individual servers or integrated on a single physical computer. In either scenario, Internet Security and Acceleration Server can dramatically strengthen system protection, enforce unified Internet use policy, accelerate web connectivity, and increase employee efficiency.

Benefits of Microsoft ISA Server 2004
Important benefits that distinguish MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 from Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 and competing firewall solutions include its powerful security features, ease of use, and ability to provide fast and safe Internet connectivity.

• Advanced Protection
  Microsoft ISA 2004 is designed to guard your business against the latest generation of threats by performing stateful packet filtering and circuit filtering. Packet filtering decides which packets are allowed to pass through to the secured network circuit and application-layer proxy services. This filtering dynamically opens ports only as needed and immediately disables the ports when the communication ends. Circuit filtering provides application-transparent circuit routing for mixed-platform connectivity to Windows Media technologies, Telnet, IRC, and many other Internet protocols. The circuit-layer security of Microsoft ISA 2004 complements on-the-fly packet filtering to enhance security and ease of use.

  Besides stateful packet and circuit filtering, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server also controls application-specific data by means of application, command, and data-aware filters. By smart filtering of Virtual Private Networks, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, FTP, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, POP3, Domain Name System, H.323 conferencing, streaming media, and remote procedure call traffic, MS ISA 2004 can accept, reject, redirect, and modify traffic based upon its contents.

• Ease of Use
  MS ISA 2004 is feature-rich yet simple for IT managers to operate. Microsoft ISA 2004 includes multinetworking system functions, unified Virtual Private Network, firewall administration through a powerful visual policy editor, intuitive system templates, automated wizards, and advanced analysis utilities. Microsoft ISA 2004 also simplifies firewall setup by automatically installing both firewall and Web-caching components. Also, it supports exporting configuration information to XML, real-time firewall session analysis, and firewall user groups.

• Fast and Secure Access
  Microsoft ISA 2004 delivers quick and safe Internet connectivity by thoroughly integrating VPN functionality into the firewall architecture, speeding up Web caching, and maximizing firewall filtering speeds. Built-in IPsec tunnel mode support for site-to-site VPN access makes it simple to connect Microsoft ISA 2004 to satellite office Virtual Private Network providers. IPsec tunnel mode capability also provides deep VPN client inspection and firewall policy support for Windows-powered isolation technology, giving a company's user communities enhanced security. Compatibility with the latest third-party filters and a full-featured software development kit further expand the power of Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server.

New Features of ISA Server 2004
Microsoft ISA 2004 offers many new features and improvements, particularly when installed on a system powered by Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later. These include:

• A redesigned, simplified user interface
• Improved VPN support
• Virtual Private Network quarantine support
• Ability to create custom firewall user groups
• Customized protocol definitions
• Microsoft OWA Publishing Wizard
• Improved Web publishing
• Port redirection for server publishing rules
• Path mapping for Web publishing rules
• SecureID authentication
• Firewall-generated forms (forms-based authentication)
• Improved HTTP filtering
• Link translation

How Progent's Consultants Provide Microsoft ISA Server 2004 Help
Firewalls and security policies are complicated to plan and implement in a way that is best suited for your business. Excessive restrictions can clog operations and reduce worker efficiency, but overly loose security leaves your system vulnerable to destructive hackers and viruses.

Progent's Microsoft authorized professionals have extensive experience developing Microsoft-powered security solutions for IT environments with multiple sites, remote workers, and mission-critical eCommerce applications. Progent can offer your business the services of a security expert who can plan and deploy a configuration of Microsoft ISA 2004 that supports your security needs without restraining your productivity. Progent can also help you plan and execute a smooth ISA Server 2004 to ISA 2006 Server upgrade so that you can take advantage of Microsoft's most advanced firewall technology.

Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Technology
For small companies in the San Francisco region, Silicon Valley, and cities across the U.S., Progent's Microsoft certified professionals offer computer help and information technology consulting expertise for the entire line of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Windows Server, and Microsoft line-of-business applications. Progent's set up, administration, support, and custom programming offerings include system planning, installation, and deployment.

In order to get in touch with Progent about consulting help for ISA Server Firewall technology, phone 1-800-993-9400 or e-mail isa-server-help@progent.com.