Windows Server 2008 R2 Security Baseline released

The Windows Server® 2008 R2 Security Baseline is a new addition to the security baselines released earlier this year that can be used in combination with the Security Compliance Manager tool. The security baseline for Windows Server 2008 R2 provides you with free Microsoft-recommended solutions to meet today's security challenges. In combination with best-practice guidance and the Security Compliance Manager tool, the baseline is designed to help you plan, deploy, and monitor the security of Windows Server 2008 R2. This release also includes a settings pack for Windows Server 2008 R2, enabling you to define baselines that include settings outside the scope of the security baselines from Microsoft.

To learn more, visit the TechNet Library: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=200483

New users can access this baseline by visiting the Microsoft Download Center to download the Security Compliance Manager tool: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=113939

Existing Security Compliance Manager tool users can access this baseline by clicking the Tools menu, and then clicking Check for Baselines.

Security Compliance Manager Baseline Beta Review Program

If you have not yet provided feedback on the previously announced beta baseline release for Microsoft® Office 2010, or the new settings packs for Windows® 7 and Windows® Internet Explorer® 8, join the Security Compliance Manager Baseline Beta Review Program: https://connect.microsoft.com/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=5758&InvitationID=SOL-D2BR-VFJ2&SiteID=715

The Security Solution Accelerators team is developing new baselines and settings, all of which are designed to help your organization plan and deploy security baselines with ease and confidence. These new baselines and supporting best-practice guidance are available as part of the Security Compliance Manager Baseline Beta Review Program. The scope of this program includes security baselines for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Office 2010, SQL Server® 2008, SQL Server® 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2008 R2; and settings packs for Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8.

The beta releases in this program are formatted to be imported for use in the Security Compliance Manager tool, which released in early 2010. This powerful tool provides guidance to work with other tools and features of Microsoft products to help you plan, deploy, and monitor your security baselines. The tool enables you to access and automate all of your organization’s baselines in one centralized location, balancing your needs for security and functionality.

To learn more about the Security Compliance Manager tool, visit the TechNet Library: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=113940

To download the tool, click here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=182512

Please send any questions or comments to the Solution Accelerators Security Team: Secwish@microsoft.com.