Editor's Note - March 2000

What Do You Really Want to Ask Us About?

Our newest column is on a topic you think about every day: security. "Ask Us AboutSecurity" is in a Q & A format, with answers provided by Joel Scambray. Joel is a Principal of Rampart Security Group. He recently co-authored Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions, from Osborne-McGraw Hill.

The column's objective is to answer your questions about new and old Microsoft security technologies, how to configure Microsoft products securely, and general security best practices. Send your questions to Joel and keep an eye on the column for the answer.

Product Design Using Your Input

We're using your input to redesign our feedback process so that you can have more direct input into product features. You've probably seen and hopefully filled out a few surveys already for specific product improvements. We'll also improve our feedback process based on the input you give us in our Customer Service Survey.

Check out our site's Feedback Central area for more opportunities to influence the design of future products.

By Request, More New Windows 2000 Information

You've let us know that you're very, very interested in reading as much about Windows 2000 as you can. We've rallied to your input by posting the text of the entire Windows 2000 Server Deployment Planning Guide, and a link to where you can buy the entire Windows 2000 Resource Kit. Scan through the lists of articles in the Windows 2000 Technology Center to see the dozens of new articles we've posted.

In addition, other areas of the site have information on using Windows 2000. The Education area is focusing on Using Windows 2000 Terminal Services in Education, and Microsoft's Information Technology Group (ITG) is creating useful case studies on Windows 2000 deployment at Microsoft.

There's plenty of good reading, but let us know of any topics you'd like to read more about.

Is It Possible - A More Exciting Puzzler?

It was quite a trick to pull off but we believe we've designed the best Puzzler contest yet. Be sure you're sitting down as you read this:

Round 6 is coming the third week of March - watch our home page for the announcement. We will actually be running two rounds of Puzzler contest on the site (4 questions/weeks) each. There will be first-place prizes for winners of the first 8 rounds, and mini-rounds for which the prize will be round-trip tickets to TechEd 2000. There will be mini-competitions held at N+I and Windows World. We will choose one winner from each of those games to go to TechEd. At TechEd, the winners will compete for...a BMW roadster!

As always, /technet/archive/community/columns/ednote/030600.xml your thoughts and ideas on how we can continue to make TechNet even better.

Tim McBride
Group Manager
Microsoft TechNet

Illustrated portrait by Elizabeth Anderson, MSN Staff