Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Unleashed

Shutting Off Unnecessary Services

Each service that runs, especially those that use elevated system privileges, poses a particular security risk to a server. Although the security emphasis in Windows Server reduces the overall threat, there is still a chance that one of these services will provide entry for a specialized virus or determined hacker. A great deal of effort has been put into the science of determining which services are necessary and which can be disabled. Windows Server simplifies this guessing game with an enhanced Services MMC snap-in.

As shown in Figure 15.2, the Services console not only shows which services are installed and running but also gives a reasonably thorough description of what each service does and the effect of ...