Windows Hardening

Secure Windows servers following Microsoft security baselines and CIS benchmarks.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Hardening Windows servers
• Implementing security baselines
• Meeting compliance requirements
• Configuring Windows security features

Security Baseline

# Download Microsoft Security Baseline
# Apply via Group Policy or LGPO tool

# Install Security Compliance Toolkit
Install-Module -Name SecurityPolicyDsc

Account Policies

# Password policy via Group Policy
# Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings

# PowerShell alternative
net accounts /minpwlen:14 /maxpwage:90 /minpwage:1 /uniquepw:24

# Disable Administrator account
Rename-LocalUser -Name "Administrator" -NewName "LocalAdmin"
Disable-LocalUser -Name "Guest"

Windows Firewall

# Enable firewall
Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled True

# Default deny
Set-NetFirewallProfile -DefaultInboundAction Block -DefaultOutboundAction Allow

# Allow specific rules
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Allow RDP" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 3389 -Action Allow

Audit Configuration

# Enable advanced audit policy
auditpol /set /subcategory:"Logon" /success:enable /failure:enable
auditpol /set /subcategory:"Account Lockout" /success:enable /failure:enable
auditpol /set /subcategory:"Security Group Management" /success:enable

# Enable PowerShell logging
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ScriptBlockLogging" -Name "EnableScriptBlockLogging" -Value 1

Windows Defender

# Enable real-time protection
Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $false

# Enable cloud protection
Set-MpPreference -MAPSReporting Advanced

# Configure scans
Set-MpPreference -ScanScheduleDay Everyday
Set-MpPreference -ScanScheduleTime 02:00:00

Best Practices

• Apply security baselines
• Enable Windows Defender ATP
• Configure AppLocker
• Disable SMBv1
• Enable Credential Guard
• Regular Windows updates
• Implement LAPS for local admin passwords

Related Skills

• cis-benchmarks - Compliance scanning
• windows-server - Server administration