AppLocker is introduced in Windows 7 as a new application control policy. Essentially, AppLocker allows for application whitelisting or blacklisting. An administrator can specify exactly what applications are allowed to run (whitelisting) or what applications are restricted from running on the system (blacklisting). This feature allows for application standardization in an environment, an ultimate goal of any administrator.
As our users continually beg for local administrative privileges, AppLocker may assist in providing such privileges without the risks that are often attributed. Normally such privileges are necessary to run certain applications and through AppLocker policies they may be granted without full local administrative privileges. This new feature is only available on Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7. AppLocker is a policy-based feature and may be configured through gpedit.msc.
Windows Vista introduced the Backup and Restore feature and due to its success, Windows 7 also includes the feature. This tool is found in the Backup and Restore console of the Control Panel and can be used by end users and administrators to back up the system files, user's files, and even the entire system. This feature is very useful when used correctly and backups are performed regularly. As hard drives tend to fail entire systems with user's files and data can be lost forever. Using Backup and Restore scheduled backups may be configured to back up the system data to another physical hard drive, removable media such as thumb drives, external hard drives, CD, and/or DVD drives, or a network location.
From the Backup and Restore console within the Control Panel, a user may choose to create a backup, a system image, a system repair disk, and restore the system from a backup. It is recommended that system backups be set up to automatically run as per the configured scheduled configuration. Backup options allow the user to choose what files to back up or alternately Windows can choose, in which case it will back up data files in Libraries and user's profiles, and create a system image.
In the event that data is lost or the hard drive fails, Windows Restore is the simplest method to recover the system and user data. From within the same console, a user may Select another backup to restore files from. This can be performed from another Windows 7 system and can restore backups performed on Windows 7 or Windows Vista computers.
Although biometric devices have been available on computers for a few years now, Microsoft Windows 7 is the first operating system to implement biometric security without the need of third-party software. We have discussed that password security should be required for all Windows 7 users. Biometrics takes security to the next level by not only asking the end user to authenticate with something they know but with something they have, the user's fingerprints.
Working with multiple biometric devices, Windows 7 now allows the user to login to the Windows 7 system and authenticate with other applications and/or Web sites with the user's fingerprints. Biometric devices may be configured from the Control Panel. The console states the status of the biometric devices. The end user will first need to enroll and follow the Biometric Enrollment wizard, which will assist the end user in configuring the fingers, and which will be used. One to ten fingers may be used, and it is recommended to use more than one in case a finger is ever bandaged.
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