Microsoft Launches Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Corp. (www.microsoft.com) released to manufacturing Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). This unique service pack provides customers with significant security enhancements as well as reliability and performance improvements.

Building on a comprehensive collection of security updates, Service Pack 1 addresses additional core security issues by providing customers with a reduced attack surface, better protected system services with stronger default settings, and reduced privileges.

"With Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, our development team took the time to treat the root cause of many security issues, not just the symptoms. This service pack is very significant and should help address certain classes of exploits," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Windows Server Division at Microsoft.

"IDC research consistently finds that customers look forward to a first service pack after a product release to bolster the security of the Windows environment," said Al Gillen, research director for system software at IDC.

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 provides new functionality to address known security vulnerabilities and prepares companies to better face future security threats.

Customers also can expect to see an increase in overall reliability and performance with the enhancements in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.

Microsoft internal testing shows customers can expect increased performance and reliability up to 50 percent, depending upon workload, after deploying Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.