We provide Windows server integration services focusing on the following areas
Domain Controller
A domain controller (DC) is a server - bare metal or virtualised, that responds to security authentication requests (logging in, checking permissions, etc.) within an organisation domain. The Domain is a concept introduced in Windows and now Linux / UNIX operating systems whereby a user may be granted access to a number of computer resources with the use of a single username and password combination.
Active Directory
Active Directory (AD) is a directory service that Microsoft developed for Windows domain networks and is included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of processes and services.
An AD domain controller authenticates and authorizes all users and computers in a Windows domain type network—assigning and enforcing security policies for all computers and installing or updating software. For example, when a user logs into a computer that is part of a Windows domain, Active Directory checks the submitted password and determines whether the user is a system administrator or normal user.
AD uses a global catalogue of users and resources and grants permissions where appropriate. Network Professional Services provides consulting services ensuring AD is provisioned to best practice thereby ensuring organisations get the best value from their deployment.
File and Print Sharing
Access to file and print sharing resources are granted via AD providing and appropriate level of security for organisations files and documents.
Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services (RDS), known as Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 and earlier, is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allows a user to take control of a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. Remote Desktop Services is Microsoft's implementation of thin client, where Windows software and the entire desktop of the computer running Remote Desktop Services, are made accessible to a remote client machine that supports Remote Desktop Protocol. With Remote Desktop Services, only software user interfaces are transferred to the client system. All input from the client system is transmitted to the server, where software execution takes place. RDS is typically more cost effective to implement than thick client (PC's) and is best suited to graphical intensive applications such as general office automation tasks.
Certificate Services
Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) is an Active Directory tool that lets administrators customize services in order to issue and manage public key certificates. Applications supported by AD CS include Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME), secure wireless networks, virtual private networks (VPN), Internet Protocol security (IPsec), Encrypting File System (EFS), smart card logon, Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) and digital signatures.
AD CS, which can be managed through Microsoft Management Console snap-ins or Server Manager, has the following components:
- CA Web enrolment - connects users to a CA with a Web browser
- Certification authorities (CAs) - manages certificate validation and issues certificates
- Certificate Enrolment Policy Web Service - allows computers / users to retrieve information about their certificate enrollment policy
- Certificate Enrollment Web Service - allows computers and users to enroll certificates using HTTPS
- Network Device Enrollment Service - lets network devices without domain accounts retrieve certificates.
- Online Responder - responds to requests about a certificate's status
Among other things, certificate services play an important role in authenticating devices such as PC's for example, ensuring only authorised objects can access resources, increasing security, and ensuring organisations meet auditing, compliance and privacy standards.