The Microsoft Security Assessment Tool

Tracking down network security problems can be tricky and time-consuming. One tool that can help you identify and resolve security risks is the Microsoft® Security Assessment Tool (MSAT), a free utility that presents an electronic questionnaire in which you describe your security environment.

Designed for mid-sized organizations with 50 to 500 computers, the MSAT poses 172 questions organized into different categories, then provides an analysis of your situation and recommendations on how to improve it.

The MSAT begins with a set of queries about your business model, which it uses to create a Business Risk Profile (BRP) that evaluates your security risk compared to others within your industry. The questionnaire typically takes two hours to complete, and you can stop and resume at any point.