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How can I put a screensaver on the server and have it affect workstations?

How can I put the screensaver on the server level? I am running a WinNT server domain. It's very difficult to go on everybody's PC and put the screen saver on their PC. Is there a way to just put it on the server and have it implemented on workstations? Also on my network I have some PC running on Win98, Win2000 and even WinXP. What is the solution to maximize the security level on these types of environments?

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You can achieve this with any remote administration software such as NetOP. They provide you the ability to monitor and control PCs in a networked environment. Further, they support a variety of platforms and OS versions.

The best practice is to keep all the software and OS patches updated with the latest release. Install good antivirus software on all the PCs and keep the virus definitions updated. Align system policies in accordance with the security policy and review them periodically. Implement audit control to check for any security or system breaches.

Weak passwords are "the killer." It takes no more than 30 seconds to crack weak passwords. Implement strong password policies and enforce them. "Need to know" should be the rule when granting authorization, which should follow corporate policy. Physical security is obviously the key. Authentication and identification controls should be implemented properly as they are the key factors in security. Authentication in itself is meaningless unless it is believed and implemented strongly. I suggest you upgrade the non-supported OS versions to the newer ones, as they provide better security measures.

Periodic monitoring and auditing helps measure the security posture. AND, above all, never have a false sense of security.

This was first published in September 2005

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