Mark Farrugia

Creating Custom Performance Counters in Microsoft OpsMgr (Part 2)

by Mark Farrugia

In my previous post I started down the path of wanting to create some custom counters in Operations Manager 2007, but I could not get started until I had downloaded and installed the authoring console for Microsoft System Center Operations Manager (OpsMgr) 2007. Now that that task was completed, let’s move on to creating the [...]

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Creating Custom Performance Counters in OpsMgr (Part 1)

by Mark Farrugia

I recently switched disciplines in the Microsoft Premier Field Engineering (PFE) organization, changing from a Platforms-focused position to a System Center Operations Manager (OpsMgr) focused role. I discovered during my ramp up that I had questions on how to do some easy tasks, and that the answers were not always 100% obvious at first.  For [...]

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Simplify BitLocker Administration and Monitoring with MBAM (beta)

by Mark Farrugia

Please note that the following post is all based on beta software, and all features are subject to possible change upon official release. I have done a number of posts around BitLocker, and today I would like to add one more.  Some of my previous articles include: BitLocker – Windows 7’s Best Feature Managing the [...]

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The IT Back Out Plan: How NOT to get caught with your pants down

by Mark Farrugia

You have all seen it a million times on the silver screen, our hero is caught, trapped and/or facing impossible odds, and all of a sudden they make a miraculous escape.  It seems the whole entire time while I would have been saying my prayers, our hero had a back out plan to get them [...]

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Managing Microsoft BitLocker in the Enterprise

by Mark Farrugia

In my previous posts I introduced the concept of BitLocker and talked about managing the Trusted Platform Module, now let’s talk about how we can enforce policy to ensure clients are indeed encrypting their system and data volumes.  In this post I will discuss some of the major group policies that an enterprise should keep [...]

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Managing the Trusted Platform Module with Windows

by Mark Farrugia

There are many volume encryption technologies out there, and some of these are now taking advantage of technology that Microsoft BitLocker has been using from its inception.  The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip is a micro-computer built onto all new motherboards that contains its own CPU and Flash Memory and is capable of creating, storing [...]

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BitLocker – Windows 7′s Best Feature

by Mark Farrugia

Mobile computers (Laptops, Netbooks, Tablets, etc.) have been outselling desktop computers for years now, and why shouldn’t they?  Some modern day laptops offer better 3D Gaming frame rates than desktop computer counterparts.  With the proliferation of the internet, email, electronic record keeping, digital photos/videos and electronic documents, a lot of personal information is being kept [...]

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6 Steps For Managing Risk in IT Operations

by Mark Farrugia

BusinessDictionary.com defines Managed Risk as the following: Identified probability of loss, or exposure to a danger, that has been minimized to an acceptable level through careful planning and implementation of effective countermeasures. What Exactly Does That Mean? We all manage risk everyday through our everyday actions. For example, when walking down a staircase, most people [...]

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Windows Group Policy vs. Logon Scripts. What’s the right option?

by Mark Farrugia

Recently I was asked an interesting question from one of my customers: “What is Microsoft’s recommended practice around using Logon Scripts versus using Group Policy?” To my knowledge, Microsoft doesn’t provide a lot of guidance with respect to this specific question. The logon script parameter available in every user principal’s profile property page is a [...]

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Automation: Why Laziness is a Good Trait in IT System Administrators

by Mark Farrugia

I was once told that the best system administrators are usually the laziest people. I didn’t take that statement seriously until I gave it some thought and started taking into consideration that it does in fact hold some truth. Provided you care for your job, but you are lazy, you will want to look for [...]

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How To Control Applications In Windows 7 With AppLocker

by Mark Farrugia

For my follow up article to How to use Windows 7 to lock down removable media and keep your computer safe, I would like to discuss another feature within Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate editions that both individuals and enterprises can take advantage of – AppLocker. AppLocker is a new feature built within Windows 7 [...]

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How to use Windows 7 to lock down removable media and keep your computer safe

by Mark Farrugia

You stop in at your local coffee shop that offers free Wi-Fi access. Sure enough you have someone hanging around with their laptop. They step away and leave their machine unattended; they may have locked the screen, but they left the laptop powered up and unattended while they grab another beverage. Have you seen this [...]

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