WHS Best Practices

[Jaxidian]

I did some searching around on here and there is hardly any info specific to WHS, keeping it secure, and best practices with it. The reason it is important is that while WHS is built on top of Windows 2003 Server, it has some very drastic modifications to it and there is a whole slew of software out there that doesn't even work with it. Because of this, the general application lists (such as anti-virus detection rates) have very limited usefulness to somebody trying to setup a secure WHS. Firewalls, anti-malware, and even just general configuration of the WHS to keep it secure is all absent in this thread.

Any chance we could start building up this information?

-Jax

 

[Jaxidian]

Nobody else has much to offer so I'll share what I'm finding so far. And note at this point with the software I point out I am not focusing much on quality from a security perspective but moreso obvious compatability at this point (i.e. products that are advertised as working on WHS).

(short list - will continue to grow it later)

WHS Server Software

Anti-Virus
avast! Windows Home Server Edition - This installs as an add-in to WHS and is capable of managing all client installations of avast on client PCs on the WHS network. Cost is $40/58/75 for 1/2/3 years (as of 3/19/2008).

avast! Professional Family Pack - This is the same as the avast! Windows Home Server Edition but also includes 10 avast! Professional licenses. Cost is $80/116/149 for 1/2/3 years (as of 3/19/2008).

WHS Client Software (software that integrates with WHS Server Software)

Anti-Virus
All avast! AV Products - Free Home version included. All client AV products can be monitored and managed by the WHS-based product.

Anti-Spyware
Anything that integrates with Windows Security Center (WinXP or Vista) will integrate with WHS's anti-spyware monitoring piece.