Features Microsoft ISA Server 2004
Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 is the advanced application-layer firewall, virtual private network, and Web cache technology that enhances network performance and helps to secure businesses of all sizes from assaults by both outside and inside threats.
Microsoft ISA Server 2004 offers high-level protection, ease of use, and speedy and secure access for multiple types of networks. It is especially well suited for safeguarding environments that host Microsoft applications, such as MS Outlook Web Access, MS IIS, MS SharePoint Server, Microsoft Routing and Remote Access Service, and MS AD directory service.
Microsoft ISA Server 2004 offers a full-featured, application-layer-aware firewall which protects organizations of any size from attacks from both outside and internal sources. ISA Server 2004 performs intensive inspection of transport protocols such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol, enabling it to detect many threats that ordinary firewalls don't sense. The integrated firewall and Virtual Private Network design of Microsoft ISA Server supports stateful inspection of all VPN traffic. The firewall also offers VPN client security for Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based quarantine technology, helping to guard information systems from threats that enter through a Virtual Private Network connection. In addition, an innovative GUI, configuration programs, knowledge base, and a variety of management utilities help administrators to eliminate common security implementation errors.
Microsoft ISA 2004 incorporates advanced administration tools to simplify key processes such as policy specification, data routing, server registration, and monitoring. Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server builds on Windows Server 2003 protection, directory, Virtual Private Networking, and throughput management. The firewall and cache can be deployed on dedicated servers or integrated on a single physical device. In either scenario, Internet Security and Acceleration Server can significantly strengthen network protection, promote unified Internet use policy, accelerate Internet access, and increase worker productivity.
Benefits of Microsoft ISA Server 2004
Key advantages that differentiate MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 from Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 and other older firewall solutions include its advanced protection capabilities, simplicity of operation, and power to provide fast and secure Internet access.
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Advanced Protection
Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server is built to protect your business against the latest generation of threats by providing stateful packet filtering and circuit filtering. Stateful packet filtering decides which packets are allowed to pass through to the protected circuit and application-layer proxy services. This filtering dynamically enables ports only as appropriate and immediately closes the ports when the session ends. Circuit filtering provides application-invisible circuit routing for multiplatform connectivity to Windows Media technologies, Telnet, IRC, and many other Internet protocols. The circuit-layer security of MS ISA 2004 works with dynamic packet filtering to improve protection 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 VPN, HTTP, File Transfer Protocol, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, POP3, Domain Name System, H.323 conferencing, streaming media, and remote procedure call traffic, MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server can allow, reject, redirect, and modify traffic based upon its contents.
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Ease of Use
Microsoft ISA 2004 is flexible and simple for administrators to operate. MS ISA 2004 includes multinetworking system functions, unified Virtual Private Network, firewall management through a powerful GUI policy editor, intuitive system templates, automated wizards, and advanced analysis tools. Microsoft ISA 2004 also facilitates firewall setup by automatically initializing both firewall and Web-caching features. In addition, it supports exporting configuration parameters to XML, real-time firewall traffic analysis, and firewall user groups.
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Fast and Secure Access
Microsoft ISA 2004 provides fast and safe Internet access by thoroughly incorporating Virtual Private Network capability into the firewall design, accelerating Web caching, and maximizing firewall filtering speeds. Integrated IPsec tunnel mode functions for site-to-site VPN access makes it easy to connect Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server to branch office Virtual Private Network providers. IPsec tunnel mode capability also provides deep Virtual Private Network client inspection and firewall policy compatibility with Windows-based isolation technology, giving an organization's user communities enhanced security. Compatibility with advanced third-party filters and a full-featured software development kit further extend the power of MS ISA 2004.
New Features of ISA Server 2004
Microsoft ISA 2004 offers numerous new functions and improvements, especially when implemented on a network running 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
- MS OWA Publishing Support
- Improved Web publishing
- Improved cache rules for centralized object storage
- RADIUS support for Web proxy client authentication
- 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 can be difficult to design and configure in a manner that is best suited for your organization. Excessive security rules can impede workflow and reduce worker efficiency, but overly loose security leaves your system vulnerable to destructive hackers and viruses.
Progent's Microsoft authorized professionals have extensive backgrounds developing Microsoft-powered security architectures for business networks with multiple locations, mobile workers, and mission-critical web applications. Progent can offer your business the services of a security expert who can plan and integrate a configuration of MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server that supports your business requirements without restraining your workflow. Progent can also assist you to design and implement a smooth ISA Server 2004 to
Microsoft ISA 2006 Server migration so that you can benefit from Microsoft's most advanced firewall solution.
Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Technology
For small and mid-sized companies in the San Francisco region, Silicon Valley, and cities nationwide, Progent's Microsoft certified professionals offer network help and information technology consulting expertise for the entire family of Microsoft .NET servers, Windows Server 2003, and Microsoft line-of-business applications. Progent's set up, management, technical assistance, and application programming services include system planning, configuration, and deployment.
If you wish to get in touch with Progent about engineering support for ISA Server technology, phone 1-800-993-9400 or send email to isa-server-help@progent.com.
