The Administrator's Book Shelf
2004
It seems like just about the time I become proficient in something, a new version is released. Such is the life of an MCSE or a network administrator. My students, readers, and friends continually ask me for reading recommendations. I am not much of a 'cover-to-cover' reader of anything except Tom Clancy books. I am more of a reference book person. I buy a book, spend an evening with it learning the topics it covers and then I refer back to it as reference. So, what is on my office bookcase right now?
Yes, this really is one of my bookcases. I'm not exactly a neat freak. Most of the books I have bought over the past 6 months are related to Windows 2003, Active Directory, or PKI. Believe me, PKI is going to be hot once people figure out how to do it right.
So, what books will benefit you?
 Mastering Windows Server 2003 by Mark Minasi, et alMark's book is still king of the stack. At over 1,600 pages, it is nearly impossible to mine all the jewels out of it quickly, but I still pick it up weekly. |
 Exchange Server 2003 24seven
by Jim McBeeWhat? You think I'm not going to plug my own book????!!! I'm humble, but I'm not stupid. |
 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: A
Microsoft Resource Kit
This is not a single book, but a collection of technical manuals on networking, directory services, planning, automation, and Internet Information Server. This is another one of those guides that every organization (but not necessarily each administrator) should have a copy of. Just share nicely. :-) |
 Secure Messaging With
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003: The It Implementer's Guide to
Securing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 by Paul Robichaux
Paul understands messaging and security. If you think your e-mail system
is secure and that your e-mail is secure, think again. This book was
greatly anticipated by the Exchange community and has been very well received.
It is a "must read" for any Exchange administrator concerned about security. He
is also a great speaker and one heck of a great guy. |
 Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 by Barry
Gerber. Barry and I tried to make sure we did not have much overlap between our respective books. Barry's book is great for these getting their feet wet with Exchange 2003 and mid-level administrators. |
 Planning for PKI: Best Practices Guide for Deploying Public Key
Infrastructure by Russ Housley and Tim Polk My friend Brian Komar recommended this book. Brian is a PKI guru and when he says a book is good, it is great. This book has been really useful for me. |
 Writing Secure Code, Second Edition by Michael
Howard and David C. LeBlanc This book is required reading at Microsoft; Microsoft is getting serious about developing operating systems and applications that are more secure from the inside-out. This is a good book for developers and system people alike, but you should have some programming expertise to fully follow it. |
 Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions, Fourth
Edition by Stuart McClure, Joel Scambray, George Kurtz Security is no longer the concern of just a few people in large organizations. All administrators should have an understanding of the areas that can be vulnerable in their organizations. |