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ISA Server 2004 Enters Broad Beta
by Scott Bekker
1/28/04 ¡ª Microsoft posted a public beta of Internet
Security & Acceleration Server 2004, the second-generation version
of Microsoft's enterprise firewall and Web caching product.
Major enhancements in this beta for the follow-on to ISA Server
2000 include a bigger focus on securing the application layer through
the firewall, improving ease of use and tuning performance.
There are several architectural differences between the ISA Server
2000 and ISA Server 2004 products. They include support for unlimited
multiple networks and types with security policies that are configurable
per network, enhanced VPN filtering and support for VPN tunnel mode,
and a new user interface designed to improve upon the previous MMC
snap-in.
Microsoft does not appear to be using Windows Server 2003 or ISA
Server 2004 to force users to upgrade to the latest version of either
product. With ISA Server 2000 Service Pack 1 and some other downloads,
ISA Server 2000 can support Windows Server 2003. The beta version
of ISA Server 2004 runs on both Windows 2000 Servers and Windows
Server 2003 editions.
ISA Server is one of two major firewall technologies offered by
Microsoft. While ISA Server is targeted at enterprise servers, a
built-in firewall in Windows XP is targeted at personal computers.
The Windows XP firewall is currently called the Internet Connection
Firewall, but it will be renamed the Windows Firewall when Windows
XP Service Pack 2 ships.
While the ICF primarily served as a security perimeter for home
computers and branch office or home office systems, the Windows
Firewall's enhanced configurability is supposed to make it a workable
shield for systems that are inside corporate networks and already
behind corporate firewalls, such as ISA Server.
The download page and the CD ordering page for the ISA Server 2004
beta are available at Microsoft's ISA Server homepag
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