With Internet security an increasing concern, so in turn there has been an increase in firewall solutions aimed to protect enterprise organisations from unwanted intrusion and malicious attack. Supporting the deployment of Microsoft's upgrade to Proxy Server 2.0, Configuring ISA Server 2000 is a true heavyweight designed to help network professionals muscle through the minefield of installation.

Written by experienced trainers and authors Thomas and Debra Shinder, this hardback reference is rich in content and ripe for the job of assisting any administrator with an understanding of the TCP/IP protocol stack. Balancing the issues of Internet security with configuring your ISA-protected network for optimum performance, this book cleverly guides its readers through the maze of ISA Server with clear step-by-step "walk-through" exercises.

From the outset the Shinder's address the issues at hand in a thorough and authoritative manner. The opening chapter presenting an introduction to Microsoft ISA Server provides an excellent overview of ISA Server's functionality. The chapters that follow then deliver a detailed discussion of a number of topics including security concepts and policies, deployment, planning and design through to matters of configuration, Web and server publishing, and troubleshooting.

Each of the books chapters concludes with a useful FAQ's section, and there's also details of a Web link where you can "Ask the Author" the questions that haven't been answered. Other features included are "Undocumented ISA" and an electronic searchable copy of the book on CD. All in all, little is left uncovered in this excellent reference. --Peter Lunn