There are lots of ways you can use the Computer Management Console to protect your small office PCs. For instance, you can use the Event Viewer to view security audits, which can inform you of failed logon attempts, password lockouts, and other security issues. You can view system failures such as failed printing requests, failed connection requests, and similar errors and warnings. Paying close attention to these events can help you uncover security threats like logon attempts that happen In the middle of the night when only your cleaning staff is there, and similar issues.
The Users folder (in the
Computer Management Console) shows all of the users configured for the computer and their properties (which can be changed from this console). You can also access Device Manager, view properties for removable storage devices, run Disk Defragmenter, and manage the hard disks on your computer, all from this single console. Double-click any item to see additional information about the message. You may find out from the Event Properties window that someone tried to log on at 12:10 p.m. on July 5th, with a bad user name or password, when your offices were closed. That would be something you'd need to look into.
The best way to become familiar with the Computer Management console is to browse through its options. Many will look familiar, including Disk Defragmenter, Device Manager, and Services:
1. Open the Control Panel, and if you are using Category view, click Performance And Maintenance. Click Administrative Tools. (If you can't find this icon, perform a search for the Administrative Tools folder.)
2. Open Computer Management.
3. To view Event Viewer, Shared Folders, Local Users And Groups, Performance Logs And Alerts, and Device Manager, expand the System Tools tree in the left pane, and then expand and/or click any item in the list to access it.
4. Access the Security log; double-click any item to view more information about it.
5. Expand Local Users And Groups and the Users folder to view the users who have access to your computer. Double-click any users you’ve created to change the options and requirements for that user.
6. Click Device Manager under the System Tools console to view the console and make changes to the computer’s configuration.
7. Expand the Storage tree to view Disk Defragmenter or the
Disk Management consoles.
If you become interested in setting up users and groups, configuring performance logs and computer alerts, or working with shared folders among computers on a workgroup, there are lots of help files on the subject. Simply click Help, and click Help Topics. In the Help window, choose Computer Management.