2.8.3 EFS – Part 1
By Val Bakh
As the world of information technology (IT) becomes more and more sophisticated with each passing day, the security of the information that we store on computers has become a major headache. But, just as we occasionally have to go to work while suffering a migraine, we have to accept the pervasive need for IT security. There’s no way around it. It’s like locking the door to your house when you are leaving for work. There’s always the risk that you might misplace your house keys during the day or leave them behind in your office, but leaving the door unlocked is no longer as viable an option as it used to be a few decades ago. Similarly, we have to secure our data. The question is, how? Data security is an extremely complex but fascinating subject area. There are many technologies and methods, which are usually implemented in conjunction with one another to form a multilayered, impregnable (keep your fingers crossed) fortress.
By Kailin Acheson
2013 has flown by, and 2014 (our 15th anniversary!) is close on its heels. As we start the new year, I thought I'd share my top 13 highlights from the Boson World in 2013.
By James Hanback
Time for a pop quiz. You have less than one second. Shout out the first term that pops in your head when you examine the following string of characters:
By James Hanback
Back in the early aughts I could sometimes be seen lugging around gargantuan certification study guides that—once I obtained certification—ended up either creating a sizable footprint on my reference shelf or propping my bedroom door open at night. Although printed books have been and always will be a convenient means of carrying information with you, tomes such as certification study guides can be cumbersome to juggle alongside your briefcase, your laptop bag, your lunch, and the various mobile devices you carry along on your daily jaunt through this thing called modern life. Nevermind trying to maintain that balancing act while crossing a busy intersection, trying to jam your car keys into your pocket or purse, and keeping yourself dry of the hot coffee that’s sloshing around in your travel mug.
2.8.2. Windows Firewall – Part 2
By Val Bakh
In last month’s blog post about Windows Firewall (WF), we introduced network firewalls and host-based firewalls and explained the general principles of their operation. We also became acquainted with WF, its most important general settings, and two types of rules. Now we’ll discuss both types of WF rules and examine their main settings. We will also consider an example scenario that illustrates how the two types of rules work together.
By James Hanback
If you’ve ever worked a help desk job in a small office environment, you might have unwittingly trained the end users in your company that a simple restart is the magical solution to every problem, from slow performance to a crashing application. It might even clear up your acne and cure that nagging cough you can’t seem to kick. Naturally, you know better. But over the many years that computer systems have entrenched themselves in every niche of our lives, some of the most common problems end users face have been most easily solved—at least in the short term—by a system reboot (or by pressing the Caps Lock key). So the user reboots and, hopefully, moves on.
By Brian Scheibe and Kelson Lawrence
Quick NetSim 9 GUI update here....The NetSim 9 GUI has recently been updated to include several features that you should find helpful to your studies.
2.8.1. Windows Firewall – Part 1
By Val Bakh
This article is a high-level introduction to firewalls in general and Windows Firewall (WF) in particular. It provides a simplified, conceptual view of the relevant functionalities and is intended as light-reading material for those who are unfamiliar with firewalls, rather than as an instruction manual for professional IT administrators. It will be easier for you to understand this material if you have access to a computer running Windows 7 or Windows 8 and if you open and review the WF dialog boxes that are discussed here.
