Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 is an extensible enterprise firewall and Web cache server built on the Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 operating system security, management, and directory for policy-based access control, acceleration, and management of internetworking.
The Internet provides organizations with opportunities to connect with customers, partners, and employees. Although this offers opportunities, it also presents risks and concerns about security, performance, and manageability. ISA Server is designed to address the needs of today's Internet-enabled businesses. ISA Server provides a multilayered enterprise firewall that helps protect network resources from viruses, hackers, and unauthorized access. The ISA Server 2006 Web cache enables organizations to save network bandwidth and provide faster Web access for users by serving objects locally rather than over a congested Internet.
Whether deployed as dedicated components or as an integrated firewall and caching server, ISA Server provides a unified management console that simplifies security and access management. Built for both the Windows Server 2003 and Windows® 2000 Server platforms, ISA Server provides secure and fast Internet connectivity with powerful, integrated management tools.
This section introduces you to ISA Server.