Using Icon Sets in Excel

To create a table that displays a colored object rather than a value follow these steps:

1. Create a table.
2. If your table will be a yes or no then use either a zero or one as the value.
3. Select all values (zeros and ones).
   
4. Click on Conditional Formatting in the Home tab.
5. Move your cursor over Icon Sets and then select an Icon type.
6. To have only the icon displayed, click on Conditional Formatting in the Home tab
7. Click on Manage Rules.
8. Click on Edit Rules
9. Select the Show Icon Only check box in the lower right of the form.

Watch this video to see how it's done.

Auditing a Shared Folder

Windows 7 and Server 2008 both have the feature to audit File Share. As stated by Microsoft, "This security policy setting determines whether the operating system generates audit events when a file share is accessed." We will be using this feature as other Systems Administrators do to detect if there has been intrusion. Remember that to stop the intrusion, effective firewalls are necessary.
Follow these steps to use Audit File Share:

1. Open Local Security Policy by clicking the Start button, typing secpol.msc into the search box, and then clicking secpol.‌ If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2. In the left pane, expand the Advanced Audit Policy Configuration folder. Expand System Audit Policies - Local Group. Double-click on Object Access.

3. In the right pane double-click on Audit File Share.

4. In the Audit File Share Properties window select the Configure the following events: check box. Then select the Success check box and the Failure check box to audit both successful and unsuccessful attempts to access a shared folder. Then click OK.
   

Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772690%28WS.10%29.aspx

Use an Input Form in Excell

If you need someone to input information into Excel, but they are not Excel savvy create a Data Input Form. This Data Input Form will allow a user to input data easily, similar to a form in Access.
First, you will need to build your Excel workbook as you would like it formatted, organized, and formulated to connect with other worksheets inside your workbook.
After you have created your workbook with all the necessary columns follow my video tutorial.

1. Click on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar on the Quick Access Toolbar at the very top of the page to the left of the MS Office button.
2. From the drop down menu click More Commands...
3. From the Choose commands from drop down box select All Commands
4. Scroll down to Form... in the commands box below
5. Select Form... and then click the Add>> button and click OK
   
6. Now click the Form button on the Quick Access Toolbar and then you'll define the form according to how you created your worksheet.
7. Input your first data set.
8. Click the New button and that data now appears on your sheet.
   

Port Scanning with Nmap: The How To

Tutorial Article Nmap: A valuable open source tool for network security by Michael Cobb.
I found this article very useful to learn more about the general Scanning fundamentals.
See how to spoof ports, fragment packets, scan to determine the Operating System, and save reports to your computer.

The Reference Guide to Nmap
http://nmap.org/book/man.html

This is a site with helpful tips. This is a page is associated with the above page.
http://nmap.org/book/man-port-scanning-techniques.html