OMB to require standard Windows desktop configuration

In response to Jim Polaski's devastating news about Auto Warehousing
Co. switching to Macs, I thought I'd post about Microsoft's 'meager'
gains:

"The Office of Management and Budget will require agencies to move to
a standard configuration for Microsoft Windows desktop by Feb.1,
2008."

"In a memo that will be signed off on as early as today by OMB Deputy
Director for Management Clay Johnson, and supplemented by an e-mail
that went out today to CIOs from OMB Administrator for E-government
and IT Karen Evans, the White House is expanding the work the Air
Force did with Microsoft Corp. governmentwide."

"Starting in 2004, the Air Force began shifting more than 525,000
desktop computers to three "predetermined configurations. It also
preconfigured all software on its computers with security settings
specific to Air Force requirements."

"The Army also is following the Air Force's lead and implementing the
standard configuration."

"The National Institute of Standards and Technology worked with the
Air Force and other Defense Department agencies to develop guidance
about securing Windows operating systems, including XP and Vista. OMB
is making this guidance mandatory in order to improve IT security
across the government, experts said."

"OMB's memo will require agencies to develop plans by May 1 on how
they will implement the standard configuration, said a government
official familiar with the memo but who requested anonymity because
the document hadn't been issued. The plans must include how they will
test the configuration, automate enforcement to use these permitted
structures, restrict administrator rights and address other issues."

"Agencies by June 30 also must make sure all newly purchased desktops
and other hardware and software purchases include the standard
configuration, the official said."

"This should make it easy for everyone, agencies and vendors, because
there is nothing subject to interpretation," the official said. "The
developers will have to develop against the same configuration."

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OMB to require standard Windows desktop configuration
    ... "The Office of Management and Budget will require agencies to move to ... a standard configuration for Microsoft Windows desktop by Feb.1, ... "Starting in 2004, the Air Force began shifting more than 525,000 ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: OMB to require standard Windows desktop configuration
    ... "The Office of Management and Budget will require agencies to move to ... a standard configuration for Microsoft Windows desktop by Feb.1, ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: OMB to require standard Windows desktop configuration
    ... "The Office of Management and Budget will require agencies to move to ... a standard configuration for Microsoft Windows desktop by Feb.1, ... "Starting in 2004, the Air Force began shifting more than 525,000 ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: OMB to require standard Windows desktop configuration
    ... "The Office of Management and Budget will require agencies to move to ... a standard configuration for Microsoft Windows desktop by Feb.1, ... "Starting in 2004, the Air Force began shifting more than 525,000 ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Right. Own up.
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