centralized control/adm/ and security: on a virtuell pc fo..

s4serendipity.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
> I am a mac user (designer) in a large pc-based institution about to
> employ new pc's for everybody and a new centralized administration of
> these. I want to continue to use mac platform and am arguing that
> switching to mac with a virtuell pc will solve multiple problems
> including connecting me to the file server, using calender and network
> printer.
> My IT boss is concerned about 1) being able to completely control my
> virtuel pc in the same way as the other pc's, including being able to
> steer program installment, updates, and 2) security issues between the
> two platforms (not having complete control over the mac part of my
> machine, creating a weak spot in their security setup).
>
> Can anyone help me with answers and/or documentation about these two
> issues?

Macs are important for folks in the design community, so I understand
your dilemma.

I don't recommend VirtualPC for anything other than web browsing. I've
always found it to be slow and clunky and just enough to barely get by.
I'd go with a cheap Windows machine sitting alongside a Mac with a KVM
switch before using VPC.

If you can get an Intel Mac then I highly recommend using Parallels. The
experience is great. Then I would encourage you to ask your IT folks to
build your image and maintain control themselves. No Mac user has a need
to self-maintain his own virtual Windows machine outside of an
organization's prescribed build. Join it to the Widows domain, install
centrally managed antivirus software, install SMS, etc. Your IT folks
may need a little coaxing to do this but then they retain control.

--

bill

William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
 >> Stay informed about: centralized control/adm/ and security: on a virtuell pc fo.. 

In article <1194010250.641934.223920 DeleteThis @z9g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
s4serendipity DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:

> I am a mac user (designer) in a large pc-based institution about to
> employ new pc's for everybody and a new centralized administration of
> these. I want to continue to use mac platform and am arguing that
> switching to mac with a virtuell pc will solve multiple problems
> including connecting me to the file server, using calender and network
> printer.
> My IT boss is concerned about 1) being able to completely control my
> virtuel pc in the same way as the other pc's, including being able to
> steer program installment, updates, and 2) security issues between the
> two platforms (not having complete control over the mac part of my
> machine, creating a weak spot in their security setup).
>
> Can anyone help me with answers and/or documentation about these two
> issues?

In your situation I definitely wouldn't use VPC/WindowsANY, it's just a
bit sluggish and has a number of limitations.
I suggest you get an Intel Mac and use Parallels or VMware Fusion for
running your Windows in a virtual memory space on your MacOS X system.
 >> Stay informed about: centralized control/adm/ and security: on a virtuell pc fo.. 

On 2 Nov, 22:31, William Smith <meckli....TakeThisOut@REM0VETH1S.comcast.net>
wrote:
> s4serendip....TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
> > I am a mac user (designer) in a large pc-based institution about to
> > employ new pc's for everybody and a new centralized administration of
> > these. I want to continue to use mac platform and am arguing that
> > switching to mac with a virtuell pc will solve multiple problems
> > including connecting me to the file server, using calender and network
> > printer.
> > My IT boss is concerned about 1) being able to completely control my
> > virtuel pc in the same way as the other pc's, including being able to
> > steer program installment, updates, and 2) security issues between the
> > two platforms (not having complete control over the mac part of my
> > machine, creating a weak spot in their security setup).
>
> > Can anyone help me with answers and/or documentation about these two
> > issues?
>
> Macs are important for folks in the design community, so I understand
> your dilemma.
>
> I don't recommend VirtualPC for anything other than web browsing. I've
> always found it to be slow and clunky and just enough to barely get by.
> I'd go with a cheap Windows machine sitting alongside a Mac with a KVM
> switch before using VPC.
>
> If you can get an Intel Mac then I highly recommend using Parallels. The
> experience is great. Then I would encourage you to ask your IT folks to
> build your image and maintain control themselves. No Mac user has a need
> to self-maintain his own virtual Windows machine outside of an
> organization's prescribed build. Join it to the Widows domain, install
> centrally managed antivirus software, install SMS, etc. Your IT folks
> may need a little coaxing to do this but then they retain control.
>
> --
>
> bill
>
> William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
> Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

But what about security issues? My boss is concerned that although
they have control over the pc part of my machine, there might be
security leaks because my Mac (which they don't have control over) and
and the Pc are on the same machine. Thus, me being a weak spot in
their security set-up... ?

s
 >> Stay informed about: centralized control/adm/ and security: on a virtuell pc fo.. 

s4serendipity.TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:

> But what about security issues? My boss is concerned that although
> they have control over the pc part of my machine, there might be
> security leaks because my Mac (which they don't have control over) and
> and the Pc are on the same machine. Thus, me being a weak spot in
> their security set-up... ?

Unfortunately, nothing I can tell you to tell your IT folks will
alleviate their concern if they don't study and learn it themselves.

Windows in Parallels is 100% Windows, not a 99% Windows port running on
top of a Mac OS. Parallels (nor any virtual technology) does not give
you any back doors that would allow you to gain administrative access if
your Windows system is locked down.

I would assume they have obviously never explored virtual technologies,
which also allow Windows to run on Windows. It's the same thing with
Windows running on a Mac. Keep in mind you're virtualizing hardware, not
software.

Hope this helps!

--

bill

William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
 >> Stay informed about: centralized control/adm/ and security: on a virtuell pc fo..