Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying Policies for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

This step-by-step guide illustrates how to deploy Active Directory® Group Policy objects (GPOs) to configure Windows Firewall with Advanced Security in Windows Vista® and Windows Server® 2008. Although you can configure a single server locally by using Group Policy Management tools directly on the server, that method is not consistent or efficient when you have many computers to configure. When you have multiple computers to manage, create and edit GPOs, and then apply those GPOs to the computers in your organization.

The goal of a Windows Firewall with Advanced Security configuration in your organization is to improve the security of each computer by blocking unwanted network traffic from entering the computer. Network traffic that does not match the rule set of Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is dropped. You can also require that the network traffic which is allowed must be protected by using authentication or encryption. The ability to manage Windows Firewall with Advanced Security by using Group Policy allows an administrator to apply consistent settings across the organization in a way that is not easily circumvented by the user.

For download: Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying Policies for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security