[ISN] Government Use Of Windows 7 Hinges On Security Spec

[InfoSec News]

http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=221601528

By J. Nicholas Hoover
InformationWeek
November 12, 2009

More than a dozen federal agencies, including the White House and all 
branches of the military, are testing Windows 7, according toMicrosoft 
(NSDQ: MSFT). But it may be another six months before agencies can move 
ahead with Windows 7 deployment because a government-mandated security 
standard hasn't been finalized.

The Federal Desktop Core Configuration spells out 300 settings for 
Windows PCs and laptops, with a goal of making them less vulnerable to 
hackers and data breaches. FDCC settings exist for Windows XP and 
Windows Vista, but not yet for Windows 7.

"It will take until spring 2010, at least," said Ken Page, Microsoft's 
FDCC program manager, in a presentation today at Microsoft's Washington, 
D.C., office. "This process does not happen fast."

A number of agencies are pilot testing Windows 7, including all branches 
of the military, the FDIC, White House, Internal Revenue Service, 
National Archives, and the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, 
Homeland Security, Justice, said Page.

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