Take a proactive approach to enterprise network security by implementing preventive measures against attacks before they occur. Written by a team of IT security specialists, this hands-on resource provides concrete steps you can take immediately as well as ongoing actions to ensure long-term security. Whether you're working on a Windows, UNIX, wireless, or mixed network, you'll get complete details on how to systematically harden your network from the ground up, as well as strategies for getting company-wide support for your security plan. With coverage of all major platforms and applications, this book is an essential security tool for on-the-job IT professionals. Features a four-part hardening methodology:

Do This Now!--Checklist of immediate steps to take to lockdown your system from further attack Take It From The Top--Systematic approach to hardening your enterprise from the top down, focusing on network, data, and software access, storage, and communications Once Is Never Enough!--Ongoing monitoring and assessment plan to keep your network secure, including patch management and auditing How to Succeed at Hardening Network Security--Strategies for getting budget approval, management buy-in, and employee cooperation for your security program

John Mallery is a Managing Consultant at BKD, LLP, and a veteran security specialist.

Jason Zann, CISSP, is an Information Security Consultant for DST Systems.

Patrick Kelly, CISSP, CCSE, MCSE, MCP+I, is an Information Assurance Engineer for ComGlobal Systems, Inc.

Paul Love, MS Network Security, CISSP, CISM, CISA, is a Security Manager with a large financial institution.

Wesley Noonan, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, NNCSS, Security+, is aSenior Network Consultant for Collective Technologies, LLC.

Eric S. Seagren, CISSP, ISSAP, SCNP, CCNA, CNE, MCP+I, MCSE, is an IT architect, designing secure, scalable, and redundant networks.

Rob Kraft is the director of software development for KCX, Inc. Mark O'Neil is the CTO of Vordel and principal author of "Web Services Security."

Series Editor and author Roberta Bragg, CISSP, MCSE: Security, Security+, writes a column for Redmond Magazine and writes the weekly Security Watch newsletter. She is the author of "Hardening Windows Systems" and several other information security books.