DNSSEC Support
Many security pundits have decried that the next big plague facing the Internet is the inherent insecurity of the Domain Name System (DNS). Now DNSSEC comes to the rescue as a set of extensions to DNS that prevent spoofing address information. Windows 7 comes with DNSSEC support out of the box.
VHD Boot
VHD Boot is another eponymous feature which works with a virtualized desktop infrastructure to ensure image consistency among client computers. If you have an environment employing strong Group Policy configuration, folder redirection, roaming profiles and the like, then you can feasibly boot from a virtual image. It could be one, for example, used by a telesales or customer support team that works remotely -- which is the same image used on physical PCs for those users that require access to discrete hardware.
Windows Troubleshooting Platform
The Windows Troubleshooting Platform is a new, comprehensive approach to solving end user problems via troubleshooting packs, which address problems and can be applied to PCs throughout the environment to rectify those issues; and the Windows Troubleshooting Toolkit, which allows you as the administrator to create your own troubleshooting packs when you identify specific issues within your own infrastructure. Also, but separately, a new Problem Steps Recorder allows an end user to record the steps he takes leading up to a problem, capture those steps into automatically created screen grabs, and e-mail that to an administrator or help desk representative for easier problem resolution.
Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment
With PowerShell's popularity, Microsoft has introduced into Windows 7 a graphical interface for PowerShell that makes it very easy to learn the scripting language and use it in a color-coded, easy-to-read environment. Developing, debugging and running the scripts in this new environment is much easier than the previous single-command-prompt method.
PowerShell Remoting
Also new to PowerShell is support for the WS-Management protocol that allows you to remotely run commands on client PCs. You can use this capability on a one-to-one basis, say for specific requests in response to help desk calls, or you can fan out with one-to-many remoting and run cmdlets on multiple PCs from within the Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment.
Jonathan Hassell is an author, consultant and speaker on a variety of IT topics. His published works include RADIUS , Hardening Windows, Using Windows Small Business Server 2003 and Learning Windows Server 2003. His work appears regularly in such periodicals as Windows IT Pro magazine, PC Pro and TechNet Magazine. He also speaks worldwide on topics ranging from networking and security to Windows administration. He is currently an editor for Apress, Inc., a publishing company specializing in books for programmers and IT professionals.