MICROSOFT WINDOWS COMPUTERS can be very useful by themselves, but they are far more effective when they are able to communicate with one another. Windows computers that can communicate and exchange information have the ability to assume specific roles that make your organization’s computing environment more efficient and effective. Unfortunately, connecting computers also makes accessing your organization’s information easier for unauthorized users as well as authorized users. That means you have to be diligent to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data.

In this chapter, you’ll learn about techniques that many organizations use to ensure that their Windows networks are secure. You’ll learn how to connect computers together without risking your organization’s information to loss, alteration, or disclosure.