As an IT with relatively low technical skills, I spend a lot of time googling little problems I find and I can only imagine that people in engineering, marketing, or wherever end up doing the same thing pretty often.
Additionaly, I feel that creating a stable workstation isn't too hard and can be done without pricey software on Win2k machines. I keep my workstations on auto-update, with AV and TeaTimer (part of spybot). Google toolbar makes a great popup blocker. These machines rarely have problems and my network is very stable now compared to where it was when I first started about 2 years ago. We still run NT servers that require a lot of attention, so I understand those of you who have complained about corp. beauracracy. Anyways, I've found that there are only a few (10) workstations (the multi-user stations) that are in need of constant attention and I'm about to load DeepFreeze on those. We have a decent SAN so it won't be a problem.
I guess one of the main points I'm making here has to do with the fact that I am completely clueless about Windows security policies, yet I've managed to secure and stabilize a network of 120 client computers without doing a hardcore "lock-down". My people can still use AIM and browse porn, and they can still install anything they want, but things are relatively quiet on the battlefront. I manage all of these computers alone, since my boss deals primarily with the ERP and backoffice, and I still have time to give every person one-on-one attention, stay up-to-date on my IT newsletters and recent virus awareness, and install Tribes Vengeance on my own workstation.
I'm an amatuer compared to you guys, but it sounds like the problem of spyware and viruses is being exagerated to boost some egos. I especially hear a lot of people complaining without offering solutions and this thread has become more of an ethical discussion on a clients bill of rights.
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As an IT with relatively low technical skills, I spend a lot of time googling little problems I find and I can only imagine that people in engineering, marketing, or wherever end up doing the same thing pretty often.
Additionaly, I feel that creating a stable workstation isn't too hard and can be done without pricey software on Win2k machines. I keep my workstations on auto-update, with AV and TeaTimer (part of spybot). Google toolbar makes a great popup blocker. These machines rarely have problems and my network is very stable now compared to where it was when I first started about 2 years ago. We still run NT servers that require a lot of attention, so I understand those of you who have complained about corp. beauracracy. Anyways, I've found that there are only a few (10) workstations (the multi-user stations) that are in need of constant attention and I'm about to load DeepFreeze on those. We have a decent SAN so it won't be a problem.
I guess one of the main points I'm making here has to do with the fact that I am completely clueless about Windows security policies, yet I've managed to secure and stabilize a network of 120 client computers without doing a hardcore "lock-down". My people can still use AIM and browse porn, and they can still install anything they want, but things are relatively quiet on the battlefront. I manage all of these computers alone, since my boss deals primarily with the ERP and backoffice, and I still have time to give every person one-on-one attention, stay up-to-date on my IT newsletters and recent virus awareness, and install Tribes Vengeance on my own workstation.
I'm an amatuer compared to you guys, but it sounds like the problem of spyware and viruses is being exagerated to boost some egos. I especially hear a lot of people complaining without offering solutions and this thread has become more of an ethical discussion on a clients bill of rights.
I've found enabling IE's content advisor at particular levels effectively disables it. OWA can then be granted through the trusted sites controls.