subject: Windows 7: Strong Security Enhancements [print this page] Windows 7 draws heavily on the security foundations of Vista "" the most secure version of the Windows client to date "" while enhancing auditing and the User Account Control experience. AppLocker in the newest operating system helps IT control what software can run in their environment. Windows 7 also improves the core features of BitLocker Drive Encryption with the introduction of BitLocker To Go for removable storage devices.
The OS retains Vista"s fundamental security features such as Kernel Patch Protection, Service Hardening, Data Execution Prevention, Address Space Layout Randomization, and Mandatory Integrity Levels to provide greater protection against malware and attacks.
Apart from that, the latest Windows 7 operating system offers improved audit capabilities enabling an organization to meet its regulatory and business compliance requirements easily.
Windows 7 also retains UAC with specific alterations including reducing the number of operating system applications and tasks that need administrative privileges and providing a flexible consent prompt behavior for users who continue to run with administrative privileges. This will enable standard users to do even more than ever before and all users will experience fewer prompts.
Application control policies have been refurbished with a feature called AppLocker "" a flexible, easy-to-administer mechanism that gives users the ability to run applications, installation programs, and scripts that they require to be productive.
The tool introduces publisher rules that are based on application digital signatures, which make it possible to build rules that survive application updates as you can determine attributes such as the version of an application.
With new rule creation tools and wizards AppLocker provides a robust experience for IT administrators. Creating new rules, automatically generating rules, and importing/exporting rules has become intuitive and easy to maintain by using a step-by-step approach and fully integrated Help.
Microsoft has markedly improved Vista"s BitLocker in Windows 7. The tool, which is the best solution for Drive Encryption, is available with the Ultimate edition that helps users by encrypting the entire data. Once you turn on the BitLocker, any file on the drive will be automatically encrypted.
BitLocker, along with BitLocker To Go, provides access to data and sensitive information only to authorized users. In fact, BitLocker To Go offers administrators control over removable media storage devices like USB Flash drives, portable disk drive and others.
In a nutshell, Windows 7 has built upon the security foundations of Windows Vista with advancement in a number of security features. Thus, Windows 7 will be benefiting all users, be it individuals or businesses, with new technologies for improving privacy of sensitive information and making the personal information more secure.
