Building a 21st Century Learning Environment with the Microsoft® Windows® XP PlatformA discussion for IT professionals in the K-12 school environment

Building a 21st Century Learning Environment with the Microsoft

Windows XP Platform

The education world faces more opportunities and challenges than ever before. Student performance mandates come up against limited budgets and stringent accountability standards. The right technology infrastructure can help place schools and districts well on the way to overcoming these growing hurdles.

Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server™ deliver ™ deliver ™

foundation technologies for your school or institution. Whether your IT team needs to enhance the capabilities of a single classroom or the entire district, Windows offers a full spectrum of tools and features that can be deployed to build the solution that meets the need.

Easy and reliable features and applications help students, teachers, and administrators expand potential and achieve success, while performance administration and networking capabilities help your team deliver a cost-effective environment that’s more secure, manageable, and scalable. Mobile computing, multimedia learning opportunities, remote work and development opportunities for faculty, communication between parents and educators, standards-based curriculum development, administrative decision making, and more will be enhanced with the Windows XP platform.

For more information, visit For more information, visit Microsoft.com/education or contact your Microsoft Representative. or contact your Microsoft Representative.

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Windows XP in Your IT Program

With the Windows platform, your IT team will be choosing a rich ecosystem supplying content, application, and solution development. The Windows community offers easy-to-implement products and services that students, teachers, administrators, and other education professionals need for success.

The robust Windows community makes third party solutions and support available to IT professionals for any community school. Microsoft partners can help your IT team leverage existing technology investments or integrate disparate systems, plan and implement hardware and software systems, manage IT staff shortages driven by budget limitations, train teachers and staff, create solutions customized by school or district, and take advantage of special purchase programs and contracts.

Windows Vista™Windows Vista™Windows Vista — the successor to Windows XP — will deliver a clear roadmap to an even more effi cient and enriching information environment for schools. Windows Vista provides a more natural experience for end users, because they can interact with the desktop in intuitive, accessible, and expected ways. The graphic, 3-D Windows Vista environment lets users do more, creating dynamic publications and staying connected with their information. Windows Vista is also built from the ground up for lower-cost deployment, greater security and reliability, enhanced accessibility, seamless remote management, and enhanced enterprise compliance and reporting features, all of which will reduce the IT maintenance overhead.

IT professionals value the fl exible, scalable environment offered by the Windows platform. Choosing the leading operating

discoverby the Windows platform. Choosing the leading operating

discoversystem for your K-12 school or district can maximize the payoff discoversystem for your K-12 school or district can maximize the payoff discoverfrom IT expenditures even amidst potential funding cuts. Your discoverfrom IT expenditures even amidst potential funding cuts. Your discoverIT team can integrate Windows XP with legacy technology discoverIT team can integrate Windows XP with legacy technology discoverinvestments. Windows XP offers tools for migrating user data, discoverinvestments. Windows XP offers tools for migrating user data, discover

troubleshooters that help diagnose problems, IT administration tools for installations across the network, and more. These tools deliver easy problem solving and management and a cost-effective environment. You can minimize risk, deliver incremental improvements, and stay within budget, all while meeting the IT goals for your school or district.

Windows XP and Windows Server include built-in safety and security tools for maintaining privacy and protecting data integrity. The Windows XP integrated Windows Firewall and Security Center helps protect user data without increasing cost or limiting access to the Internet. System Restore in Windows XP protects system integrity after installations and upgrades. File restore and management capabilities in Windows Server 2003 protect against fi le losses. Students and educators enjoy expanded learning and growth opportunities without sacrifi cing privacy or productivity.

With Windows XP, your school can standardize on the best in breed Microsoft Offi ce Professional 2003 software suite, offering ease of use and superior collaboration. Standardization reduces implementation, training, and support requirements. And with Learning Essentials for Microsoft Offi ce, teachers and students will have templates, tutorials, and more all at the tips of their fi ngers. The solid instructional hardware and software available on the Windows platform give students more learning and study opportunities, and powerful new data management systems automate No Child Left Behind (NCLB) compliance while allowing for customized reporting to meet varying program and reimbursement requirements. Innovative and customizable solutions provide the tools for inspiring curricula while enhancing communication between students, teachers, and parents. Windows solutions can connect classrooms and campuses, provide better management of faculty hiring and development, facilitate tracking, and more.

Superior security features, ease of deployment and management, fl exibility, and cost effectiveness make Windows the platform of choice for delivering reliable and cost-effective 21st century solutions in the K-12 IT space.

Your IT team can create 21st century learning, teaching, and leadership opportunities with the Windows XP platform.

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The Windows XP Commitment to K-12 Education

You can count on Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Server, and other Microsoft offerings to provide the tools, programs, and solutions that bring effi ciency, reliability, and academic success to your education environment. With the goal of enhancing student, faculty, administrator, and alumni satisfaction, Microsoft and industry partners offer solutions for all educational environments through http://www.microsoft.com/education.

research and reference tool for the classroom. Empower students to

nurture their creativity by using Photo Story 3 and Movie Maker 2.1 to

add pictures, sounds, and videos to school reports. OneNote can help

students take and organize notes more effi ciently. Producer 2003

easily captures, synchronizes and publishes audio, video, slides and

images. And with Education Pack for Tablet PC, students can exploit

digital versions of time-tested student learning tools to study effectively

and stay organized.

• The Learning Essentials desktop application runs on top of Microsoft

Offi ce to give students and teachers a custom Offi ce environment.

Learning Essentials includes curriculum-based templates and toolbars

for the Microsoft Offi ce Word 2003, Microsoft Offi ce PowerPoint 2003

presentation graphics program, and Microsoft Offi ce Excel® 2003

spreadsheet software, plus academic tutorials from leading education

publishers. Learning Essentials helps students get started, stay

organized, and successfully complete high-quality assignments. And

for teachers, Learning Essentials can help them easily create effective

instructional resources, complete administrative tasks, and implement

new teaching strategies.

• Student and teacher familiarity with the Windows XP desktop envi-

ronment drastically lowers technology training requirements while

signifi cantly increasing learning and reducing teacher workload. Products

like Learning Essentials, which offers curriculum-based templates and

toolbars to help teachers create lessons and students complete assign-

ments, automate the learning process without the expense of customized

tool or curriculum development. Integration between Microsoft Offi ce

2003 applications enables teachers to leverage instructional materials, for

example repurposing material from a classroom PowerPoint presentation

as an assignment or quiz.

What You Can Build in Your School with Windows XP

IT professionals seek reliable and consistent systems that deliver reduced maintenance and upkeep, minimal downtime, and seamless compatibility. Windows XP and Windows Server technologies meet those needs as well as the challenges of delivering 21st century learning, teaching, and leadership opportunities to students, educators, and administrators.

Put a springboard for success in every classroom

• Because the widest range of innovative software and services are built for

the Windows platform, the Windows environment can help students and

teachers in the classroom. Windows XP provides a familiar experience

across the most applications and services, making it easier to use tech-

nology to access information from many different sources. Visit Windows

Marketplace (http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/) to see the large

selection of 3rd party software and hardware products that work on the

Windows Client platform.

• IT professionals, students, and teachers with accessibility needs can use

the accessibility features built right into Windows XP. These features

make the computer easier to see, use, and hear. A wide-variety of

Windows-compatible specialized assistive technology products, such

as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifi ers, and

on-screen keyboards, offer innovative solutions that help individuals with

diffi culties and impairments successfully use computers.

• The widest selection of educational software can help students improve

their interest and skills in math, writing and more. These skills also

can lead to better study habits and testing skills, helping students get

ahead and stay there. Innovative software like Microsoft Student 2006,

Microsoft Offi ce 2003 Edition, Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows,

Windows Movie Maker 2.1, Microsoft Producer for Microsoft Offi ce

PowerPoint® 2003, Microsoft Offi ce OneNote® 2003 and Microsoft

Education Pack for Tablet PC can make any Windows XP PC the ultimate

For more information, visit Microsoft.com/education or contact your Microsoft Representative.

• Networking, Internet, and video capabilities built in to Windows XP

facilitate improved reference resources and availability of online courses

within school facilities, link the desktop to the enterprise, and enable

distance learning, helping districts recruit and retain top teaching talent.

Microsoft Learning Gateway Framework serves as the premier learning

management platform for grades K-12, helping teachers develop portals

and eLearning programs for online instruction. Microsoft Windows

SharePoint® Services includes management tools that enable faculty to

create and maintain class Web sites, including setting up user permis-

sions, adding resources, and customizing the site pages.

• Step-by-step tutorials (http://www.microsoft.com/education/tutorials.

mspx) explain how teachers can use and integrate Microsoft software in

the classroom, reducing IT training requirements.

Maximize the budget through effi cient technology

• Windows XP’s interoperability and open standards provide easy integra-

tion with legacy systems and easy integration between Windows-based

programs, reducing implementation costs while providing the greatest

fl exibility in building the solution required. Windows XP supports up to

10 times more hardware than any other platform in the marketplace.*

Choose the feature set and supplier that’s right for your school. Favorable

licensing arrangements and robust and innovative operating system and

application feature sets increase the value delivered per dollar. Windows

XP and Windows Server enable you to meet your district’s unique needs

within current IT budget and resource constraints.

• Tools such as Remote Installation Services, script-based and policy-based

management tools, and automated system updates reduce deployment

and maintenance requirements. IT team members can build a consistent,

low-maintenance enterprise from the get-go, while effectively managing

system improvements.

• A variety of Academic Volume Licensing programs deliver options that

fi t your needs. An example is the School Agreement from Microsoft, a

subscription licensing program created to address the unique needs of

primary and secondary educational institutions. The School Agreement

lets you keep your school’s technology up to speed—even on a limited

budget. Benefi ts include easier compliance, lower administration costs,

better access to current technologies, and simplifi ed budgeting and

purchasing. Subscription licensing eliminates the need to track licenses

for individual School Agreement products on every computer, which is

particularly helpful for managing software assets in a decentralized en-

vironment. With subscription licensing programs, your users are licensed

to run the most current version of the software products included in

your agreement, and your institution automatically receives media for

products that upgrade during your agreement term. By standardizing on

a platform of products, your total cost of software ownership is reduced

while productivity and access to current technology are increased.

Create a more secure, reliable, and mobile computing environment for everyone

• Windows XP’s strong security features and built-in wireless networking

facilitate mobility, more secure wireless labs and library connections,

and 1-1 learning opportunities, for a powerful and fl exible instructional

environment. The Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP provides an

easy and effective way to manage shared computers in a library or lab.

Defend shared computers from untrusted users and malicious software.

Mobile Learning Solutions extend the education experience beyond the

traditional classroom, maximizing your school’s investment in informa-

tion technology systems. Teachers can access to vital information when

and where it’s needed. At the same time, these accessible solutions allow

students to participate in digital learning, no matter what their experi-

ence with computers may be.

• Microsoft is continuing to invest in technologies to make IT an increas-

ingly valuable tool for students, educators, and administrators. With

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, students can integrate reading

assignments, class notes and other learning materials as easily as using

pen and paper. With digital versions of reliable student learning tools,

the new Education Pack for Tablet PC enables students to stay organized

and study effectively. Education Pack features include: Ink Flash Cards to

enable students to create two-sided question and answer cards; Equation

Writer, which converts handwritten math equations to text; and GoBinder

Lite, a tool to help students plan ahead for assignment deadlines and test

dates. Microsoft Student 2006 is another software product designed to

complement the Windows and Offi ce desktop by delivering a compre-

hensive, subject-specifi c set of tools designed to help middle and high

school students complete high-quality homework assignments and proj-

ects in less time. Features include graphing calculator software with 2-D

and 3-D four-color graphing capabilities; tools, tutorials and templates

that integrate with Microsoft Offi ce programs to help students create

high-quality work; project tools to help students manage group projects

more effectively; and the full version of Microsoft Encarta® Premium

2006, the best selling encyclopedia brand.**

• Windows XP delivers predictability with patch management and security

updates. Microsoft increases safety by responding quickly to hot security

issues. Microsoft’s commitment to making its products the most secure in

the industry increases the value proposition to your school or district.

Demonstrate student improvement against testing standards and NCLB

• State and Federal government mandates as well as heightened interest

from school boards and parents for greater accountability, performance

and academic outcomes have greatly increased the demands on already

burdened school district administrative and IT staff. While schools work

hard to improve outcomes for students they must also maximize ef-

fi ciency in order to demonstrate and communicate these outcomes to

their local communities. No matter which curriculum and management

approaches a school district chooses to implement, the district will need

a robust and effi cient platform as the foundation for affecting change

in their districts. The Windows platform offers the broadest range of

solutions to help school systems leverage resources to meet and exceed

these expectations.

• Schools need a way to easily track, analyze, and improve student

achievement against local and mandated curriculum standards as well as

the adequate progress requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

Act of 2001. Meeting these mandates requires improved data manage-

ment and support for data-driven decision methodologies. Improving

assessment and reporting saves school budget resources while enabling

teachers to focus on their students rather than paperwork. Microsoft

leverages its proven experience in the business environment to develop

Windows platform tools that can also help schools meet compliance

requirements, support improving student achievement, evaluate and

improve school services, empower teachers and students, and identify

and respond to challenges while reacting to new opportunities in their

environments.

• With Windows, a school can implement district-wide solutions for data

warehousing, e-learning and online curriculum resources, multimedia

learning environments for the classroom, and more. Microsoft SQL

Server™ 2005 provides a robust base for both ISVs and schools to

implement data management solutions that meet their needs, while

SharePoint facilitates communication and content delivery. Familiar

end-user applications such as Microsoft Offi ce and Learning Essentials

provide tools for students and teachers in the classroom, while Microsoft

Student 2006 helps students in class and at home with their parents.

• Microsoft Learning Gateway provides an integrated Windows-based

solutions framework for improving K-12 education. With the Learning

Gateway framework, administrators can more easily implement sharing

and communicating key data with students, parents, teachers and other

public agencies; as well as meeting reporting requirements more quickly

and cost-effectively. Learning Gateway also decreases the complexity of

deploying a solution that addresses security, interoperability, and com-

munications issues within the district.

* As of 2/20/06, online computer retailer CDW.com offered approximately 10 times more hardware and software products for PCs than for Macs.

** NPDTechWorld,SM March 1993–2004, based on total U.S. retail sales.

For more information, visit Microsoft.com/educationMicrosoft.com/education or contact your Microsoft Representative.

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Technologies Addressing Today’s IT ConcernsThe Windows platform addresses the concerns of 21st century IT professionals in K-12 schools and districts: interoperability, reliability, security, cost, and value.

Key Windows Server 2003 Technologies

• Tools such as Remote Installation Services reduce deployment overhead.

• Wizards simplify setup and routine server tasks.

• Script-based and policy-based management tools, as well as automated system updates, provide for easy standardization and maintenance.

• Intelligent fi le storage enables retrieval of previous fi le versions through shadow copy restore. DFS (Distributed File System) and FRS (File Replication Service) provide fi le access to remote users.

• Active Directory® helps provide identity management and security. Tools for easier Active Directory deployment and management include the Active Directory Migration Tool.

• Faster fi le system, Active Directory, XML Web services, Terminal Services, and networking performance enhance the environment.

• SharePoint Services provides document control capabilities such as docu-ment check-in/check-out and version control, customizable metadata, and simple approval workfl ows.

• Windows Resource Manager provides for controlling resource usage, such as processor and memory utilization.

• Internet Information Services 6.0 supports intranets and Web sites with higher overall reliability and uptime.

• Microsoft .NET integration increases developer productivity.

• Enterprise UDDI Services, a dynamic XML infrastructure, facilitates consis-tent and reliable data exchange.

Key Windows XP Professional Technologies

• Accessibility features in Microsoft Windows XP make computers easier to see, use, and hear for customers with physical and cognitive diffi culties and impairments. Accessibility features, such as high contrast display, keyboard and mouse adjustments, the Narrator screen reader, the Magnifi er screen enlarger, and the On-Screen Keyboard, are built right into Windows XP, making it easier and more comfortable to use your computer.

• Adaptive User Environment adjusts to the way an individual user works. This helps users learn Windows XP and applications faster, reducing training overhead.

• Windows File Protection protects core system fi les from being overwrit-ten by application installations. If a fi le is overwritten, Windows File Protection will restore the correct version.

• Enhanced software restriction policies provide administrators a policy-driven mechanism to identify and control software running in the environment and control its ability to execute, helping prevent viruses and providing software lockdown.

• Supports up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and up to two symmetric multi- processors for scalability.

• Encrypting File System (EFS) encrypts each fi le with a randomly gener-ated key. The encryption and decryption processes are transparent users, while providing multiple users access to an encrypted document.

• IP Security (IPSec) helps protect data transmitted across a network, in particular providing security for virtual private networks (VPNs) for more secure Internet data transmission.

• Turned on by default, the built-in Windows Firewall helps increase computer security from startup to shutdown, reducing the risk of network and Internet-based attacks. Windows Security Center enables easy management of security resources with a single, unifi ed view of key settings, tools, and resources.

• Windows Media® technologies provide easy capture of streaming media,

live and on-demand event production, and playback on multiple devices.

sparkspark

1. Integration

Windows Is the IT Pro’s Choice for Large-Scale Integrations

Windows XP with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 features an array of

proven and tested integration and deployment tools, such as SMS

(Microsoft Systems Management Server), that have been in constant use

and development since 1993 and iterations of those products, such as

Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM). Third-party solutions such

as Norton Ghost™ and Altris™ and Altris™ ™ asset management software have a history ™ asset management software have a history ™

of deployment success in the enterprise and in education over the past

decade. Microsoft has excellent free and paid support for its deployment

tools, ranging from white papers to application compatibility toolkits

to how-to guides on its Windows XP Professional Deployment website

(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/default.

mspx), to its TechNet membership. Microsoft Solution Providers and

partners are in every region in the United States.

2. Technology Innovation

sparkMicrosoft Nurtures a Collaborative sparksparkComputing Platform for EducationsparksparkThe Education Pack for Tablet PC demonstrates that Microsoft has taken sparksparka leadership role in bringing advanced technologies and software to sparksparkthe classroom. Software such as Send to Microsoft Offi ce OneNote 2003 sparksparkenables a student brainstorming with others to instantly record his or

sparksparkher idea as a handwritten concept, and then use collaboration tools like

sparkMicrosoft Windows Messenger 5.1 for a text chat or Microsoft Offi ce Live

sparkMicrosoft Windows Messenger 5.1 for a text chat or Microsoft Offi ce Live

sparkMeeting for video conferencing to share that idea with other students

anywhere in the world. The student can then arrange further collaboration

using Microsoft Offi ce Outlook® 2003 with Microsoft Exchange Server ® 2003 with Microsoft Exchange Server ®

2003, the groupware standard all other solutions aspire to for calendaring

and email. Additional enhancements like SharePoint Portal Server 2003

extends those collaboration opportunities beyond the fi rewall of a school’s

LAN to parents, teachers working from home, or remote teaching resourc-

es such as sister schools in different countries. A teacher in Iowa using the

Web-enabled capabilities of Microsoft Learning Gateway Framework may

be able to share information about a student with a parent serving in the

military overseas, or even carry on a parent-teacher conference with the

parent via chat, audio, or video.

3. Choice

Microsoft Windows is the Platform of Choice for Education

When it comes to choosing integration, client management, or Directory

Services software or enhancements, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Edition features not just one but many best-of-breed software choices from

Microsoft and it’s unparalleled array of thousands of third-party develop-

ers and solution providers. Enterprises and educational institutions can

choose from a variety of solutions for their workers, IT pros, students, and

faculty members. Customers with physical and cognitive diffi culties and

impairments can choose from a wide variety of assistive technology solu-

tions, such as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifi ers

and on-screen keyboards. Microsoft is continually exploring and evolving

accessibility solutions that are integrated with our products. Schools

are now treating IT infrastructure as an enterprise, even where support

resources are limited. It is vital that workstations integrate fully with the

software and hardware solution schools adopt and be able to take full

advantage of that ecosystem.

Ten Reasons to Deploy Windows Client in Your School Environment

For more information, visit Microsoft.com/education or contact your Microsoft Representative.

4. Solution Support

Windows XP Professional Edition Preserves Your Software Assets

The Windows XP Professional Edition registry, security model, and NTFS

fi le system are mature, robust foundations for educational software

packages. Legacy software designed for older versions of Windows will

work within the Windows XP Professional multi-user security model. With

a clearly defi ned upgrade path, best-of-breed third-party solutions are

updated and supported, allowing educators and the IT professionals that

support them to rely on the software that delivers the learning experi-

ence to students. For example, a K-8 math package originally released for

Windows 95 still runs reliably, with full security intact, or has been updated Windows 95 still runs reliably, with full security intact, or has been updated

with new features that take advantage of Windows XP Professional.

Support for the application is available by telephone from the software

publisher. Third-party developers are comfortable with developing for

Windows and fi nd it a profi table partnership.

5. Hardware and Driver Support

Windows XP Professional Edition Gives Schools Hardware Choices

Windows XP Professional Edition supports digitally signed drivers and

Operating System Versioning of Drivers to ensure the widest array of

compatible hardware, with multiple offerings for every class of hardware

device. For example, the Canon DR-7580 high-speed document scanner,

which excels at the quick conversion of paper records into digital fi les,

has no Mac OS X (or OS 9) driver. Other peripherals, such ATI’s All-In-

Wonder X1800XL video card, have advanced features that require a

computer running a current version of Microsoft Windows. Currently,

CDW (http://www.cdw.com) lists approximately 84,000 products on its web

site as PC-compatible.

6. Return on Human Investment

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition is Easy to Use for Students and Corporate Workers

Students entering the job market will fi nd that 90 percent or more of

potential employers consider Windows experience an asset. Windows

XP’s ease of use and familiar interface translate into valuable skills when

students enter the workforce. Successful employment in the fastest grow-

ing job sectors of the economy depends greatly on offi ce automation

computer competency. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor

Statistics in a document titled “Tomorrow’s Jobs” forecasts that “Offi ce

and administrative support occupations are projected to create 7.5 million

job openings over the 2002-12 period, ranking third behind service and job openings over the 2002-12 period, ranking third behind service and job openings over the 2002-12 period, ranking third behind service and

professional and related occupations.”

7. Client Desktop Management

Windows XP Professional Edition Features Best-of-Breed Client Management from the Inside OutBest-of-Breed Client Management from the Inside Out

Workstations and user accounts managed by Group Policy Objects (GPOs) Workstations and user accounts managed by Group Policy Objects (GPOs)

have granular settings and fi le-system management down to a single have granular settings and fi le-system management down to a single

registry entry. Third-party application developers also can take advantage registry entry. Third-party application developers also can take advantage

of the registry for their applications’ menus and settings. For example, of the registry for their applications’ menus and settings. For example,

an IT Manager who needs to confi gure settings for Microsoft Offi ce 2003 an IT Manager who needs to confi gure settings for Microsoft Offi ce 2003

will fi nd that he or she can set up application menus, preferences, fi le will fi nd that he or she can set up application menus, preferences, fi le

paths, and access to advanced features such as document security through paths, and access to advanced features such as document security through

registry entries managed through the user profi les and GPOs. Network registry entries managed through the user profi les and GPOs. Network

administrators may set fi le save paths for Microsoft Offi ce 2003 documents administrators may set fi le save paths for Microsoft Offi ce 2003 documents

across an entire organization, customized keyboard shortcuts, or even across an entire organization, customized keyboard shortcuts, or even

add/remove specifi c fi les and folders full of templates by simply editing a add/remove specifi c fi les and folders full of templates by simply editing a

group policy.

8. Remote Administration

Windows XP Professional Edition Includes Effi cient Remote-Administration Tools

Remote Desktop Connection gives network administrators remote

assistance privileges on every Windows XP Professional workstation, fully

rooted in the Domain Security Policy and Group Policy, as well as on a

user-granted basis. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) works effi ciently and

securely over any connection (including dial-up) and has web-based

clients and a Mac OS X client solution. Remote Desktop Connection also

supports true remote sessions, so that an administrator may work in the

background without having to disturb the user’s work, with full logging

of remote administration sessions via the Event Viewer’s Security

and Application logs. All administrators need to do is make sure that the

Windows XP Professional workstations have remote administration

enabled immediately upon connection to Directory Services, with privileges

based upon Group Policies without additional local confi guration.

9. User Rights Assignment

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Allow for Granular Assignment of User Rights

An administrator logged on to a Windows Domain Controller (DC) can

change user rights, granting and revoking specifi c capabilities on the local

machine or the domain. An enterprise administrator can delegate his or

her own capabilities, such as the ability to install software updates or

create new local folders, to other users. A teacher may be granted rights

to confi gure settings for a typing program installed on workstations in his

or her computer lab, or the ability to backup data specifi c to class projects,

but not the right to disconnect lab workstations from Active Directory.

Conversely, a group of help desk analysts rolling out new equipment may

be granted the right to join workstations to Active Directory, but not the

right to confi gure software or user accounts.

10. Directory Services

Windows XP Professional Edition Is Built as an Extension of Active Directory

Microsoft has taken every opportunity to integrate Active Directory with

Windows XP for fi le sharing, workstation management, synchronized

home directories, user-profi le management, and security for small offi ces

to schools with tens of thousands of users. Active Directory is a scalable

standards-compliant Directory Service that, like the Windows XP

Professional Registry, gives developers of third-party solutions the ability

to tap its power for their own applications. Organizational units enable the

administrator to drag and drop computers accounts, printers, groups

to objects within the directory and inherit the ACLs (Access Control Lists)

of that object. Also, IT staff can allocate network resources based on

users, group, and workstation objects quickly and more securely in Active

Directory, whether in a single school building, or spread over a campus

or district with multiple buildings.

For more information, visit Microsoft.com/education or contact your Microsoft Representative.

engage

©2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Active Directory, Encarta, Excel, InfoPath, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Windows, the Windows logo and the Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Motivating students. Connecting parents. Inspiring teachers. Empowering administrators.