Tech Tip: Get familiar with MBSA 1.2 in Windows Server 2003

by Guest Contributor | Jul 30, 2004 8:14:00 PM

Tags: Guest Contributor, Windows Server 2003 Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: Here's information about MBSA 1.2.

Version 2 of the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is due out this fall, so this is a good time to start learning how to use this extremely useful security tool. Microsoft updated the latest version, MBSA 1.2, in February 2004, and the update included a number of improvements over older versions.

MBSA scans servers and workstations, and it reports the current security configuration for each, including a list of the missing patches and service packs, the status of the Internet Connection Firewall, the status of Automatic Updates, and Internet Explorer zone configuration information.

In particular, MBSA 1.2 scans for patches and provides a list of security updates that you need to apply. Here's a list of some of the products that MBSA 1.2 scans:

• Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Office (local scans only)
• Exchange Server 2003
• Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8
• Microsoft Virtual Machine
• MSXML 2.5, 2.6, 3.0, and 4.0
• BizTalk Server 2000, 2002, and 2004
• Commerce Server 2000 and 2002
• Content Management Server 2001 and 2002
• Host Integration Server 2000 and 2004

MBSA 1.2 supports the English, French, German, and Japanese versions of Windows.

For more information, check out the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer V1.2 Web page.