Software Deployment

In the aftermath of recent scandals such as Enron, the US government were forced to introduce the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (commonly known as SOX) in a bid to install some confidence back into Corporate America. The issue of SOX compliance was also integrated with the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) code of best practice, which was designed to install yet further confidence in the US business sector by increasing the security and monitoring of IT systems.

The main requirements to be able to comply with the new Regulations revolve around the Installation of robust Systems Management software and a crystal clear Group Policy. Software asset management is vital in areas such as Software distribution and Software Deployment with a necessity to keep an accurate PC Software Inventory. License compliance is also a major issue with regards to Software deployment with potentially large fines for misuse.

In order to ensure that all IT systems are used in line with Group Policy, an accurate IT asset tracking report should always be available, as should a Maintenance active directory with an up to date list of all authorised users. With so many employees coming and going in the current business environment it is essential to carryout Active directory maintenance which will flag any potential misuses. There is also the issue of active directory security, thereby ensuring that records cannot be amended by unauthorised personnel. It is also paramount that there are procedures in place to Cleanup the active directory, as well as robust Password policy and Password filter software included in the management system.

There are a number of excellent Group Policy Software systems on the market which will deliver the required degree of functionality, however there are few who will deliver this from inside the windows operating system. Special Operations Software (www.specopssoft.com) are one company who specialise in fully compatible management software which runs from the heart of windows, and their products are highly regarded in the market place.

Recent advances in technology have opened the possibility to work on the move, accessing LAN systems from anywhere in the world. These types of Remote systems management require increased windows security to protect the LAN and the data held within.

One of the most commonly used systems at the moment is Wake on lan (WOL), which enables networks to stay dormant until specially agreed data packets are sent to a particular systems port, at which point Remote restart / shutdown is activated. Recent advances in wake on lan have also shown a marked improvement on security issues.

In a world which is ever more dependant on IT systems, it is essential that the security and standards of reporting are of the highest order.