Microsoft ISA Server 2004
Consulting, Support, Troubleshooting

Microsoft Exchange ISA Server 2004
Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 is the advanced application-layer firewall, VPN, and Web cache technology that enhances network throughput and helps protect organizations of all sizes from attack by both outside and inside threats.

ISA Server 2004 provides high-level security, ease of use, and fast and secure access for multiple types of networks. ISA Server 2004 is especially well suited for securing networks that are running Microsoft applications, such as Microsoft Outlook Web Access, MS Internet Information Services, MS SharePoint Server, MS Routing and Remote Access Service, and Microsoft AD directory service.

Microsoft ISA Server 2004 contains a full-featured, application-layer-aware firewall which guards organizations of any size from threats from both outside and internal origin. ISA Server does deep examination of Internet protocols such as HTTP, allowing it to uncover many threats that ordinary firewalls don't detect. The integrated firewall and VPN design of MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 enables stateful filtering of all VPN data. The firewall also offers VPN client security for Microsoft Windows Server-based quarantine technology, helping to guard information systems from attacks that arrive via a VPN connection. In addition, an innovative user interface, wizards, knowledge base, and a host of administration tools help administrators to avoid common security configuration errors.

MS ISA 2004 incorporates advanced management tools to simplify key processes such as policy specification, data flow, server registration, and monitoring. Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server draws on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 security, directory, Virtual Private Networking, and throughput management. The firewall and web cache can be implemented on dedicated machines or incorporated on a single physical device. In either scenario, ISA 2004 can significantly enhance network security, enforce consistent Internet usage policy, speed up Internet access, and improve worker efficiency.

Benefits of Microsoft ISA Server 2004
Important advantages that distinguish Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 from Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 and competing firewall products include ISA 2004's powerful security capabilities, ease of operation, and ability to deliver fast and safe Internet connectivity.

• Advanced Protection
  Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server is designed to protect your business against the new generation of attacks by performing stateful packet and circuit filtering, packet and circuit filtering}. Packet filtering decides what packets are permitted to travel to the protected network circuit and application-layer proxy services. This process dynamically opens ports only as needed and then disables the ports when the communication ends. Circuit filtering provides application-transparent circuit gateways for multiplatform access to Windows Media platforms, Telnet, IRC, and many other Internet services. The circuit-layer protection of MS ISA 2004 complements on-the-fly packet filtering to enhance protection and ease of use.
  
  Besides stateful packet filtering and circuit filtering, MS ISA 2004 also controls application-specific data by means of application, command, and data-aware filters. Through intelligent filtering of Virtual Private Networks, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, FTP, SMPT, Post Office Protocol 3, Domain Name System, H.323 conferencing, streaming media, and remote procedure call traffic, MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server can allow, reject, reroute, and edit traffic according to its contents.
  
  
• Ease of Use
  MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server is feature-rich yet easy for administrators to operate. Microsoft ISA 2004 offers multi networking system functions, unified Virtual Private Network, firewall management through a robust GUI policy editor, easy-to-use system templates, streamlined wizards, and enhanced analysis tools. MS ISA 2004 also simplifies firewall setup by automatically initializing both firewall and Web-caching features. In addition, it allows exporting configuration parameters to XML, real-time firewall traffic analysis, and firewall user communities.
  
  
• Fast and Secure Access
  Microsoft ISA 2004 delivers fast and safe Internet access by thoroughly integrating VPN functionality into the firewall architecture, speeding up Web caching, and optimizing firewall filtering speeds. Integrated IPsec tunnel mode support for site-to-site Virtual Private Network connections makes it easy to interface MS Internet Security and Acceleration Server to branch office VPN providers. IPsec tunnel mode capability also enables deep Virtual Private Network client inspection and firewall policy support for Windows-based isolation technology, giving an organization's user groups enhanced protection. Support for advanced third-party filters and a full-featured SDK further extend the power of Microsoft ISA 2004.

New Features of ISA Server 2004
Microsoft ISA 2004 offers many new functions and improvements, particularly when installed on a network powered by Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or later. These include:

• A redesigned, simplified user interface
• Support for multiple networks
• VPN quarantine capabilities
• Ability to create custom firewall user groups
• Customized protocol definitions
• Microsoft Outlook Web Access Publishing Support
• Improved Web publishing
• Improved cache rules for centralized object storage
• RADIUS support for Web proxy client authentication
• Delegation of basic authentication
• Firewall-generated forms (forms-based authentication)
• Improved HTTP filtering
• Link translation

How React Technologies Consultants
Provide Microsoft ISA Server 2004 Help
Firewalls and security rules can be difficult to plan and implement in a manner that is best suited for your business. Too many security rules can impede workflow and reduce productivity, but excessively lax policy makes your network open to malicious hackers and viruses.

React Technologies Microsoft certified consultants have extensive backgrounds creating Microsoft-based security architectures for IT networks with multiple locations, mobile workers, and line-of-business eCommerce applications. React Technologies can offer your business access to a security professional who can plan and integrate an implementation of Microsoft ISA 2004 that supports your security needs without restricting your productivity.