A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop

A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop
Published: Jan 10, 2008
Updated: Feb 2, 2021
1 minute read
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A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technololgy) provides a baseline reference image for the FDCC at its Web site, fdcc.nist.gov.


A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop – Password Policy

The FDCC requires passwords to change every 60 days and have a minimum length of 12 characters, among other characteristics.


A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop – User Rights

The FDCC extensively uses Windows Group Policy to enforce user rights.


A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop – Wireless Network

While the FDCC requires that wireless network functions be off by default, it does not prevent authorized wireless networking, which I was able to configure on my reference system.


A Uniform Desktop Is a Secure Desktop – User Accounts

The FDCC reference image of Windows XP comes with the guest account disabled and the administrative account renamed. Further instructions from NIST give advice about using the administrative account, although eWEEK Labs recommends not providing users with administrative access at all.


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Cameron Sturdevant

Cameron Sturdevant is the executive editor of Enterprise Networking Planet. Prior to ENP, Cameron was technical analyst at PCWeek Labs, starting in 1997. Cameron finished up as the eWEEK Labs Technical Director in 2012. Before his extensive labs tenure Cameron paid his IT dues working in technical support and sales engineering at a software publishing firm . Cameron also spent two years with a database development firm, integrating applications with mainframe legacy programs. Cameron's areas of expertise include virtual and physical IT infrastructure, cloud computing, enterprise networking and mobility. In addition to reviews, Cameron has covered monolithic enterprise management systems throughout their lifecycles, providing the eWEEK reader with all-important history and context. Cameron takes special care in cultivating his IT manager contacts, to ensure that his analysis is grounded in real-world concern. Follow Cameron on Twitter at csturdevant, or reach him by email at cameron.sturdevant@quinstreet.com.

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