Microsoft Security Newsletter
Welcome to the Microsoft Security Newsletter - a monthly newsletter for IT professionals and developers bringing security news, guidance, updates, and community resources direct to your inbox. If you have suggestions or comments about the Microsoft Security Newsletter, please send us your feedback.

Viewpoint
Are Smart Cards the New Way of Life? - Solving the Password Problem  
By Amesh Mansukhani
A significant number of IT departments tasked with managing security still rely on passwords for authentication as the first line of defense. This article discusses why user passwords are no longer good enough and why moving to multifactor authentication is a better way to help ensure secure access to resources and to protect those resources.

Top Stories
Microsoft Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) is a policy- and workflow-driven solution that helps organizations manage the lifecycle of digital certificates and smart cards. Join the Microsoft CLM Beta Program to participate in testing and read this technical white paper to learn how CLM can lower the costs associated with digital certificates and smart cards.
InfoCard will soon help provide the consistent user experience required by the identity metasystem. On the social Web, it will pave the way for all kinds of new innovations by individuals and companies. For corporations, InfoCard will make it much simpler to connect with partners online. In this article, Keith Brown discusses InfoCard specifically in the domain of Web services.
By the end of June 2006, Microsoft will have initiated legal actions on more than 100 cases in Europe, Middle East and Africa. The legal actions are linked to the Global Phishing Enforcement Initiative (GPEI). Microsoft launched the GPEI to coordinate and expand its many anti-phishing efforts worldwide to fight phishers through consumer protection, partnerships with law enforcement, governments and industries, and prosecution.

Security Guidance
By Conrad Bayer
Microsoft Certificate Lifecycle Manager (CLM) is tightly integrated with the Active Directory service for authentication and authorization. Beta 1 of CLM was released in February and is available publicly. This tip describes CLM extended permissions, identifies where you implement CLM extended permissions, and provides strategies for permission assignments.
Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 is the integrated edge security gateway that helps protect your IT environment from Internet-based threats. Download and try the latest version of this firewall, VPN, and web cache solution, and learn more about how it can help you secure your Microsoft application infrastructure and safeguard your IT environment.
This in-depth reference book teaches you how to design and implement even the most demanding certificate-based security solutions for wireless networking, smart card authentication, VPNs, secure e-mail, Web SSL, EFS, and code-signing applications using Windows Server 2003 PKI and certificate services.
Learn how to configure and operate a Windows certificate authority. This guide offers operational scenarios, custom configuration information, sample commands, and best practices.
When IP Security (IPSec) is configured to use a certification authority (CA) for mutual authentication, you must obtain a local computer certificate. You can obtain this certificate from a third-party CA, or you can install Certificate Services in Windows to create your own CA. This article describes how to install a local computer certificate for use with IPSec from a stand-alone Windows CA.
The Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync Certificate-Based authentication tool provides several utilities to assist an Exchange Server administrator in configuring and validating client certificate authentication for Exchange Server ActiveSync.
This guide focuses on the essential issues and concepts required to plan smart card authentication, and provides information that applies to organizations of all sizes that require strong identity protection and data access control.
This presentation will look at the standards and technologies that enable the concept of digital trust, and, keeping with reality, will point out a number of outstanding legal and social issues that may prevent your organization from successfully adopting some principles of digital trust.
How do you get the necessary messaging security without also compromising flexibility, control, and choice in how you run your business? Visit the Midsize Business Center and learn how the Microsoft multilayered security solution provides smart and effective security measures that contribute to overall protection for your data and your infrastructure.

This Month's Security Bulletins
Critical:
Important:

MVP Update
MVP of the Month: Brian Komar  
Brian Komar is the president of IdentIT Inc., a consulting firm specializing in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Windows Rights Management Services, Metadirectory, and smart card management solutions. Brian and his business partner, Paul Adare, work with Microsoft on several ventures, which include developing security-related courseware, writing books for Microsoft Press, and writing PKI white papers for the Microsoft Security team. Brian is a frequent speaker at IT industry conferences such as Microsoft TechEd, Microsoft IT Forum, and Windows Connections.
Brian's latest books include Microsoft Windows Security Resource Kit, Second Edition and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 PKI and Certificate Security. Brian will be appearing with Mike Nash and David Cross on the next Security360 webcast, entitled "Building a Secure, Connected Infrastructure with Digital Certificates."
By Brian Komar
Many organizations are considering the deployment of smart cards on their networks. This article focuses on the policies and processes that help ensure that a smart card certificate can be used for the assurance level stated in the certificate. The article also introduces Microsoft Certificate Lifecycle Manager, a new product that allows management of certificates and smart cards in a Microsoft Certificate Services environment.

Partners with Expertise in Security Solutions
Raak Technologies provides products and services that make it easy for enterprises to deploy strong authentication solutions to their employees, customers, and business partners. The company's products fully support Microsoft Certificate Lifecycle Manager and include smart card middleware, USB tokens, and readers.
The Axalto Cryptoflex .NET smart card works as a seamless companion to the Microsoft .NET environment and service-oriented architectures. It runs a streamlined version of the .NET Framework to provide customizable two-factor authentication, full cryptographic capabilities and support for on-card applications and services seamlessly within the Windows environment.

Microsoft Product Lifecycle Information
Find information about your particular products on the Microsoft Product Lifecycle Web site.
See a List of Supported Service Packs: Microsoft provides free software updates for security and nonsecurity issues for all supported service packs.

Security Events and Training
June 11-16, Boston, MA
TechEd 2006 provides attendees with technical training, community resources, and a chance to connect with Microsoft partners, industry gurus, and Microsoft experts. Learn how to build, deploy, secure, and manage solutions using current and upcoming Microsoft products. Register early to secure your spot; register by April 14 and receive 10 percent off the regular registration rate.
In this lab, we demonstrate the use of Internet Protocol security (IPsec) in Microsoft Windows operating systems to deploy domain and server isolation in their environments.
This hands-on lab provides specific details on how to deploy and secure Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004, Microsoft Windows Rights Management Services, and other technologies such as Certificate Services.
In this edition of .NET Rocks!, an Internet audio talk show for .NET developers, Pat Hynds checks in to share his latest insights about ASP.NET security and tell stories from the field.
For a limited time, you can get a free extra chance to pass any Microsoft IT Professional or Developer Certification exam, including MCSA: Security and MCSE: Security specializations. Register for this offer before your first exam for two chances at success.

Upcoming Security Webcasts
Join this webcast as Mike Nash and his guests discuss the growing need for digital certificate infrastructure, the challenges associated with this technology, and how Microsoft is making it easier to implement.
Attend a pre-TechEd webcast by May 12 and be eligible to win one of five free passes to TechEd 2006 in Boston.
Microsoft On-Demand Security Webcasts
NEW: Learning Paths for Security: Using Active Directory to Lock Down Your Network
The Active Directory service provides the means to manage the identities and relationships that make up your network environment. Find webcasts, virtual labs, and other resources that show how you can use Active Directory to help establish secure administrative policies and practices.
MSDN Virtual Lab: Writing Secure Native Code with Visual C++ and Visual Studio Team System
This lab provides a thorough walkthrough of the enhancements to Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 and Visual Studio Team System 2005. You will learn about the fundamental design principles for building more secure applications and how these are mapped to core changes in the underlying C and C++ libraries.
MSDN Virtual Lab: Writing Secure Managed Code with Visual Studio Team System
This lab provides a thorough walkthrough of the enhancements to Visual Studio Team System 2005. You will see how Visual Studio Team System can use technologies such as FxCop and code access security to analyze source code and diagnose deeply hidden security vulnerabilities.
Interactive Security Webcast Calendar
Upcoming security webcasts in a dynamic, interactive format.
Bonus: Attend any live webcast through June 2006 and you could win a 40-GB MP3/WMA player. See official rules for more details. Offer open to residents of the United States and Canada only.
Additional Live and On-Demand Webcast Series Available Now:

Ask the Security Experts
Security360
Web Development
For IT Professionals: TechNet Webcasts
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Windows Vista for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (Level 200)
Wednesday, April 12, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Tony Richardson, Principal Consultant, Xtreme Consulting Group, Inc.
Securing Services and Critical Accounts (Level 300)
Wednesday, April 12, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time
Bryan Von Axelson, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
SQL Server 2005 for the IT Professional (Part 6 of 11): New Application Design Patterns for Scalability and Availability and the Operational Implications of Service Broker (Level 200)
Friday, April 14, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Bob Beauchemin, Database-Centric Application Practitioner and Architect, Microsoft Corporation
Security in SQL Server 2005 (Level 300)
Monday, April 17, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Bryan Von Axelson, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
Security in Windows Vista (Level 300)
Monday, April 17, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
Keith Combs, TechNet presenter, Microsoft Corporation
Implementing Messaging Security for Exchange Clients (Level 200)
Wednesday, April 19, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Matt Hester, TechNet presenter, Microsoft Corporation
Threat Mitigation for Legacy Systems (Level 200)
Friday, April 21, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Matt Hester, TechNet presenter, Microsoft Corporation
Implementing Network and Perimeter Security (Level 300)
Monday, April 24, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time
Kai Axford, Security Specialist, Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Solutions for Windows Update Management (Level 200)
Friday, April 28, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Kevin Remde, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
For Developers: MSDN Webcasts
SECURITY ON THE BRAIN Webcast Series
Available on demand
These on-demand webcasts examine some of the major security features and tools included in Visual Studio .NET 2005 and the .NET Framework 2.0. Learn more about potential security vulnerabilities in your applications, best practices in writing secure applications, and using the right tools to develop secure applications.

Security Newsletter
Volume 3, No. 4

April 2006
In This Issue:
Viewpoint
Top Stories
Security Guidance
This Month's Security Bulletins
MVP Update
Partners with Expertise in Security Solutions
Microsoft Product Lifecycle Information
Security Events and Training
Upcoming Security Webcasts
Security Program Guide
Learn Security On the Job
Learning Paths for security - Microsoft training references and resources
Upcoming Chats
Security in Microsoft Products – April 20, 2:30 PM Pacific Time
Join Mike Nash, Vice President for the Microsoft Security Business Unit, and his team of security experts in a candid Q&A session. Ask us your tough questions; share with us what is going well and what needs improvement.

View a listing of upcoming technical chats.
Free In-Person Events
Connect with experts at TechNet Security Briefings
Security Blogs
Michael Howard RSS
Jesper Johansson RSS
Eric Fitzgerald RSS
Steve Lamb RSS
MSRC Blog RSS
ACE Team - Security, Performance & Privacy RSS
Security Newsgroups
General Security issues/questions
Open with newsreader
Virus issues/questions 
Open with newsreader
ISA Server
Open with newsreader
Windows 2000: Security
Open with newsreader
Windows XP: Security Administration
Open with newsreader
SQL Server: Security
Open with newsreader
Windows Server 2003 option
Community Web Sites
IT Pro Security Community
Security Newsgroups
More related communities
Additional Security Resources
Security Help and Support for IT Professionals
New and Improved Microsoft TechNet Troubleshooting and Support Page
Microsoft Security Glossary
TechNet Security Web Site
MSDN Security Developer Center 
Sign-Up for the Microsoft Security Notification Service
Security Bulletin Search Page
Home Users: Protect Your PC
MCSE/MCSA: Security Certifications
Subscribe to TechNet
Register for TechNet Flash IT Newsletter
Subscribe to MSDN
Protect Your Windows Network: From Perimeter to Data 
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Active Directory, MSDN, Outlook, Visual C++, Visual Studio, Windows, Windows Server, and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Digital Signatures Help Make Microsoft Security Newsletters More Secure
To help increase your security, Microsoft will soon begin digitally signing all of its security newsletters with the Internet standard, Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME). This means that if you use Microsoft Outlook, or another full-featured e-mail program, you have an added assurance that the e-mail newsletter came from Microsoft and has not been tampered with. However, many Web-based e-mail programs and some other e-mail programs do not support digital signing with S/MIME. To learn more, please see how digital signatures help make Microsoft security newsletters more secure.

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