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Policy Maker Unscathed By Windows XP Service Pack 2

Posted on: Thursday, 16 September 2004, 06:00 CDT

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoProf, the leading vendor of Group Policy Extensions for Microsoft Active Directory networks, announced today that in the wake of Windows XP Service Pack 2 its customers will not require an upgrade for Policy Maker, the company's innovative desktop configuration management system for Windows 2000, XP and 2003 Server operating systems. Additionally, their market leading Outlook Profile management product, Profile Maker, will also not require an upgrade.

Network administrators are thus free to focus on the major task of rolling out this new service pack. First National Bank of Texas, a $2.7 billion bank covering with 35 branches statewide, is currently in the midst of planning to deploy Windows XP Service Pack 2. "With Policy Maker we configure roaming users, file and print, desktop standardization, email profiles and more," said Jay Leal, First National's System Architect. "There is a great amount of savings now that all of our logon scripts are gone and we are managing everything from within Group Policy. We are planning our move to deploy Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, and I am forced to make sure that our applications are compatible. It is a great relief that Policy Maker will not require an upgrade. As we like to say, it's money in the bank."

While the intent of this security-focused service pack is to better harden computers against malicious attacks, some desktop configuration management vendors have been forced to issue one or more product updates to fix problems related to the release. Incompatibilities may result from any of the many security-related changes, including SP2 blocking insecure techniques that no longer pass scrutiny, such as the use of unauthenticated network communication.

"Policy Maker operates in the widely distributed enterprise desktop environment, however since it is standards-based and fully compliant with Microsoft's Group Policy specification, we have seen no more impact from this service pack than any other," said Eric Voskuil, AutoProf CTO. "In fact our customers can roll out the service pack and manage it using Group Policy and our Policy Maker extensions as they have existed for over a year."

Microsoft provides detailed configuration guidelines and many new features for managing this comprehensive security upgrade, and all of these are implemented using Group Policy, the Change and Configuration Management (CCM) system built into Active Directory networks. Group Policy is coming of age, standardizing essential functionality that was previously relegated to scripts and utilities. With such a focus on desktop security and deployment speed, network administrators must know that their configuration management solution is secure, easy to use, and standards-based.

Microsoft ships eleven Group Policy Extensions with Active Directory networks, including security policies and software installation. The first release of Policy Maker doubled this number, including file and print, registry management and email profiles - later adding a comprehensive patch management extension. Policy Maker 2, due for release in Q4, will add another eleven extensions, including management for database connections, folder options, and energy-saving power options. This upgrade will also be supported by "Dragnet" - code name for the company's new Group Policy Reporting system - also scheduled for release in Q4.

About AutoProf

AutoProf, the leader in Group Policy-based desktop management products, develops and markets intuitive desktop management software worldwide through a network of value added resellers and distributors. Since the introduction of its first product in 1997, AutoProf has sold its software to over 3,000 customers worldwide, including Airbus, Alliance Capital, and PepsiCo. For more information on this Portsmouth, NH-based company, visit http://www.autoprof.com/ or call 603.433.5885.

AutoProf

CONTACT: Tony Keller of S&S Public Relations, +1-847-415-9330

Web site: http://www.autoprof.com/

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