Avecto, the leader in Windows privilege management, today announced that it has partnered with noted Microsoft Windows expert and author Russell Smith, to create a free educational white paper to simplify least privilege security for enterprises. The new white paper, titled "RegulatoryCompliance and Least Privilege Security" is available immediately for download at Avecto's website.
Industry and government regulations - such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC) and Government Connect in the UK - have made securing data as it passes through personal computers a crucial requirement to prevent security breaches that could result in expensive data loss. In this new whitepaper, Russell Smith discusses the concept of least privilege security for personal computers, and why it is needed to meet requirements set out by regulatory bodies. Readers will learn:
- The risks associated with administrative rights in Windows
- How least privilege security can be applied to Windows systems
- Common challenges enterprises face in implementing least privilege security
- How to map regulatory compliance requirements to least privilege security
"In most enterprises, it is common practice for employees to log in to Windows with full administrative privileges, which dramatically increases their exposure to malware," said Smith. "Organizations cannot rely on antivirus or firewalls alone to protect their Windows systems. By taking a least-privilege approach that eliminates admin rights from Windows users without reducing their productivity, businesses can increase their security and satisfy regulatory requirements."
"Removing administrative rights is a crucial step to secure Windows systems and more effectively meet requirements for multiple industry regulations," said Tony Bolland, CEO of Avecto. "We are thrilled to be partnering with an industry thought leader like Russell Smith to educate companies on how they can implement a policy of least privilege to address their security, risk and compliance needs."
About Russell Smith
Russell Smith is author of the newly released Least Privilege Security for Windows 7, Vista and XP published by PACKT, which includes details about the applications of Avecto's PrivilegeGuard software for Windows least privilege management.
Smith is also contributing editor for Microsoft Best Practices at CDW's Biztech magazine and a regular contributor to leading industry journal Windows IT Pro. He holds a diploma of higher education from the University of London and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). With over 10 years experience securing and managing Windows Server systems for Fortune Global 500 companies and small to mid-size enterprises, Smith is also an experienced trainer.