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IBM Guns for SQL Server

IBM on Thursday released a new version of its DB2 database designed to compete with Microsoft SQL Server for the fast-growing cost-sensitive end of the database market.

Host Integration Server Lives!

Microsoft Host Integration Server, Microsoft's product for connecting Windows servers to mainframes and other so-called "legacy" systems, has seen its marketing budget killed and its development team slashed, yet the product keeps selling. In fact, Microsoft plans to ship an updated version, Host Integration Server 2004, next year.

Microsoft's Charney Promises Patch Management Improvements

The patch management problem is in Microsoft's crosshairs. During a TechEd keynote, Microsoft chief security strategist Scott Charney said he has created a patch management working group inside Microsoft. Current projects include a white paper that will lay out the company's patch management strategy and an engineering effort to reduce the company's number of patch installation technologies from the current eight to two by the end of the year.

Microsoft, VeriSign to Collaborate on PKI Platform

Microsoft and VeriSign are working together to deliver what they call a "next-generation public key infrastructure platform" for delivery by the end of the year.

64-bit Exchange a Possibility for Post-2003 Version

Will Exchange Server 2003 support Windows Server 2003? Seems like a simple question, but with Microsoft's myriad server OS editions, the answer gets complicated. In almost all real-world usage scenarios, the answer is yes.

Exchange 2003 Enters RC1 Testing Stage

DALLAS -- Beating the drum for Exchange Server 2003's eventual launch, Microsoft on Monday at TechEd announced the availability of Release Candidate 1 of the company's flagship messaging server.

Flessner Updates Microsoft Product Roadmap

DALLAS -- Microsoft senior vice president Paul Flessner used his TechEd keynote Monday to update Microsoft's roadmap for its enterprise products for the next four years or so. As part of a comprehensive roadmap, Flessner unveiled several milestones and new items, including Exchange Server 2003 RC1, the imminent RTM of Windows Storage Server 2003, a BizTalk Server 2004 Beta and a huge price drop in the SQL Server Developer Edition.

Looking Backwards: 3 Security Patches Re-released

Think your organization is up to date on its Microsoft security patches? Then make sure you've reviewed the events of the last week. Since Wednesday evening, Microsoft has re-released three security bulletins for reasons ranging from quality control problems to underestimates of the number of platforms affected by a threat to underestimates of the seriousness of a threat.

UPDATE: Certifying Your Security Expertise

Check your transcript — you might already be a security specialist, according to Microsoft.

Home as Office

You can conceivably set up most of your company for telecommuting with Windows Server 2003’s much-improved RRAS and VPN features. Here’s how.

The Process That Wouldn't Die

This IT pro should have known better than to reboot the Primary Domain Controller on Friday the 13th. Read on about his special nightmare.

New Approaches to App Lifecycle Management

Most of today's tools don't address ALM well. Eclipse and Visual Studio change that equation.

Safe Waters

How do you dive into the sea of networks in an efficient and secure way? We look at four firewall products—both hardware and software—that will help keep the sharks at bay.

Certified Mail: June 2003

Who's worth hiring; how fast will you tread to Windows Server 2003 upgrade?

Getting (and Staying) in IT

This month, our columnists address some common questions.

Registry Rights

Changing the registry is a scary concept, but WMI makes it simple.

The State of Software Development

In the world of Microsoft, the last year has been all about .NET. Is it an improvement?

The Pricing Problem

Your faithful correspondent contemplates exam economics.

Locking up the Office

Office XP is a big product, one that requires close scrutiny to properly lock down.

Securing Wireless

Bill wraps up his three-part series on building a wireless infrastructure by discussing security protocols.

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