Planning a Secure Migration Project - Best Practices for Migrating from Windows NT to Windows 2000

Sep 12, 2026

Planning a Secure Migration Project Best Practices for Migrating from Windows NT to Windows 2000 outlines key preparation steps for moving from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 with security as the central concern. It emphasizes that migration demands significant time, planning effort, and resources, and it provides guidance on project planning, research priorities, future network planning, plan testing, and deployment. The work also highlights research areas such as schema, namespace/domains, Organizational Units, delegation of authority, Group Policy, domain collapse, Active Directory replication, and DNS planning.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages31

Reading Time11 min

AccessFree to download

Framework for a successful migration

Step 1: Project Planning

Step 2: Research

Step 3: Planning your future network

Step 4: Test your plan

Step 5: Deployment

Project Planning

Developing the plan with research and proof of concept testing

Research

Schema, namespace/domains, Organizational Units, and delegation of authority

Group Policy, domain collapse, Active Directory replication, and DNS planning

Recommended Microsoft resources and security guidance

Global Information Assurance Certification Paper Copyright SANS Institute Author Retains Full Rights This paper is taken from the GIAC directory of certified professionals. Reposting is not permited without express written permission. F8B5 06E4 A169 Planning a Secure Migration Project Best Practices for Migrating from Windows NT to Windows 2000 By Ben Eason © SANS Institute 2000-2002 As part of GIAC practical repository. Author retains full rights. This paper discusses the steps involved in migrating from Windows NT to Windows 2000. The scope of this paper is focused on supplying resources and defining basic project planning tips for a successful migration with security as a central theme. This paper is not intended to be a step-by-step walkthrough. This paper assumes that you are familiar with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. It is important to note that migrating to Windows 2000 requires an extraordinary amount of time, planning, and resources. Framework for a successful migration Step 1: Project Planning Step 2: Research Step 3: Planning your future network. Step 4: Test your plan Step 5: Deployment F8B5 06E4 A169 Project Planning: The obvious areas that will require the most time and resources are developing the plan which includes research and testing your proof of concept in your test network. Project planning will be mentioned often throughout this paper. Appendix A is the task list from a very well done Microsoft Project 2000 template that comes with Microsoft Project 2000. Research: Most of the information on migration is very dry, mostly due to all of the tedious details and the fact that everything written on migration sounds the same. I have not found any single source that even comes close to being a definitive planning guide. During research, the key pieces of information you will want to pay attention to are, that which will help you plan your schema, your namespace/domains, your Organizational Units, and your delegation of authority. Basically, anything that discusses the Group Policy tool,“domain collapse”, Active Directory (AD) replication, and DNS planning should be highlighted. While the focus of your research may initially be to learn the new technologies that exist, as you start creating your vision you should also be researching tools that will help you in migrating to and administering your new domain. Microsoft’s Windows 2000 technical library website is a great place to begin your research if you do not already have a good understanding of Windows 2000. The link below has several white papers from Microsoft specifically on migration. I recommend,“Planning Migration from Windows NT to Windows 2000” as a good starting point. This is also dry reading but gives an acceptable introduction to the issues at hand with the obvious exception of security. [http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/library/planning/pds-cduadtoc.asp](http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/library/planning/pds-cduadtoc.asp) [The next step is to read everything in the technical white papers section and step-by-step](The next step is to read everything in the technical white papers section and step-by-step)[ ](The next step is to read everything in the technical white papers section and step-by-step)guides section that pertains to the services you are currently running or plan on running for a general look at what is ahead. The Windows 2000 resource kit and all of the utilities in the \support\tools folder on the Windows 2000 server installation media should be 2 © SANS Institute 2000-2002 As part of GIAC practical repository. Author retains full rights. researched as well. Often learning about what a specific tool does will give you insight to a potential problem you did not realize you were going to have. Windows 2000 DNS, published by New Riders, is a fairly well written book that gives an extended overview of DNS’s role and implementation under Windows 2000. T

FAQs

What is the overall purpose and scope of this migration paper?

The paper provides resources and basic project planning tips for a successful Windows NT to Windows 2000 migration, using security as the core theme. It is not written as a step-by-step walkthrough.

Which major phases are included in the proposed migration framework?

The framework covers project planning, research, planning the future network, testing the plan, and deployment. Each phase is presented as a distinct step toward a secure migration.

During research, what topics should be prioritized for planning?

The paper highlights schema and namespace/domains, Organizational Units, delegation of authority, Group Policy, domain collapse, Active Directory replication, and DNS planning. It also recommends researching tools needed for migrating and administering the new domain.

Sep 12, 2026

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