Our computer network is comprised of Windows based systems. The vast majority of our workstations run Windows XP Professional. The majority of our production servers run Windows 2000 Server, though a select few of our newer machines run Windows Server 2003. Our servers run myriad services, ranging from user authentication, database hosting, etc. Along with our main headquarters, we also maintain two off-site branches through a VPN connection. While the majority of production takes place at our corporate office, both branch offices have managed access to our corporate infrastructure, thus allowing them to conduct operations in real-time.
Utilizing much of the latest hardware and software offerings, we have streamlined our everyday business operations. The majority of our production applications are programmed and maintained by our in-house team of specialists. To store our critical data, we have employed several redundant 1.5 Terabyte RAID servers. Group policy implementation has allowed us to centrally manage applications on our users’ workstations, giving them all the production applications they need to perform their daily tasks.
We value the security of our network and related technological assets. To safeguard our network from the Internet, we have implemented an industrial grade firewall system. For internal security, we have locked down our workstations, also through the use of group policies. This allows us to implement access controls and help keep users from making modifications that could compromise system integrity. Further safeguards we have implemented are restricted Internet access and email. All security updates and scans are managed through a centralized server which runs our security application management console and manages the distribution of Microsoft security updates and patches. To further mitigate certain risks, we have implemented an intrinsic monitoring system for our critical data and machines. Should a production server fail, our support staff is immediately alerted. Daily backups of critical production data are maintained and stored off-site.
