DesktopStandard Releases PolicyMaker(TM) Share Manager, a Group Policy Extension for Managing File Servers23 November 2005
DesktopStandard Corporation today announced the general availability of PolicyMaker(TM) Share Manager (PMSM), the latest addition to its market-leading family of Group Policy Extensions for managing the configuration of Active Directory networks. The new product enables administrators to manage shared folders on servers as well as workstations, and to leverage Windows Server 2003 built-in Access-Based Enumeration technology for restricting visibility of shared data, through Microsoft's Group Policy change and configuration management system. Like the other products in the award-winning PolicyMaker portfolio, PolicyMaker Share Manager is an add-on to Microsoft's Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). It centralizes the process of managing shared folders and providing limited visibility to documents and files of any kind -- from business proposals, sales collateral and expense reports to timesheets, accounting templates and beyond -- through a policy-based strategy that includes three key functions: -- Creation, modification and deletion of shared folders through Group Policy, eliminating the need to make manual changes to each machine or write complex scripts to implement share policies. Share options include the use of variables in folder paths, simplifying the process of targeting resources to be shared on remote machines with disparate configurations. Delete options include the ability to delete a selected share, all visible and/or all hidden shares (except administrative and system shares). This feature can be used to easily remove all unmanaged shares on computers throughout the enterprise in order to enhance standardization, security and regulatory compliance. -- Extensive filtering capabilities, with 26 different graphical filters that can be used to precisely target share settings to specific computers according to hardware (CPU speed, RAM, disk space, etc.), software (operating system, terminal session, etc.), identity (IP/MAC address range, site, domain, etc.) or any combination. For example, a given share policy can be configured to be applied to all file servers on a given IP subnet, and another policy can be configured to remove all unauthorized shares from end user workstations. -- Access-Based Enumeration (ABE) management, permitting administrators to easily apply ABE on new or existing network shares. ABE prevents the file server from providing a list of sub-folders within that share to end users who do not have the appropriate permissions. The product also eliminates the frustration of encountering "access denied" messages when attempting to open these folders. This technology has been available to NetWare customers for years and was recently introduced in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, but without a user interface or centralized management. "We have 20 file servers dedicated to providing shared resources for roughly 1,600 users in seven offices, and part of the challenge of managing those shares is to hide the existence of those files from unauthorized users in order to maintain confidentiality and avoid conflict of interest in the cases handled by our attorneys," said Alex Diaz, Enterprise Development Manager for Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, a nationwide law firm with over 600 attorneys and 50 practice areas. "By giving us the tools to do these things centrally and efficiently, PolicyMaker Share Manager will save time, minimize support costs, and help us enforce consistent policy across the organization." PolicyMaker Share Manager is the fifth member of the PolicyMaker family. The other products include the first Group Policy Extension product on the market -- PolicyMaker Standard Edition, a suite of 21 Group Policy Extensions enabling rapid desktop standardization, security and compliance across an enterprise; PolicyMaker Software Update, the first Group Policy-based patch management product; PolicyMaker Application Security, the first product to allow network administrators to enforce the fundamental security principle of "least privilege" on Windows desktops by targeting permissions to applications and tasks; and PolicyMaker Registry Extension, a free Group Policy Extension that eliminates the need to customize cryptic template files in order to manage registry settings using Group Policy. These integrated products complement the 11 native extensions in Active Directory and work seamlessly with DesktopStandard's GPOVault product, which adds comprehensive change control to the Group Policy Management Console. Pricing, Specifications and Availability PolicyMaker Share Manager is available immediately from DesktopStandard and authorized resellers. Pricing starts at $11.00 per managed computer, including one year of upgrade assurance and technical support. Volume discounts are available for multiple nodes. PolicyMaker supports Windows 2000, XP and 2003 Server, Terminal Server, MetaFrame and all versions of Outlook, Office and Internet Explorer. It can be used as a standalone product or in conjunction with other PolicyMaker products as a unified suite within Microsoft Group Policy management tools. About DesktopStandard DesktopStandard Corporation is the leading developer of Group Policy-based desktop management products. The company has more than 3,000 customers, more than 3 million desktops under management, and a worldwide network of integrators and resellers. DesktopStandard is a Microsoft Gold Certified ISV. For more information, visit http://www.desktopstandard.com . DesktopStandard, PolicyMaker and GPOVault are the trademarks or registered trademarks of DesktopStandard Corporation. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
Source: PR Newswire
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