Windows Server Security Basics
Security is a critical aspect of Windows Server administration. This guide covers essential security practices and configurations to help protect your Windows Server environment.
User Account Security
Account Management
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User Accounts
- Account creation
- Password policies
- Account lockout
- Account expiration
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Privileged Access
- Administrator accounts
- Service accounts
- Managed service accounts
- Just Enough Administration (JEA)
Password Policies
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Password Requirements
- Complexity requirements
- Minimum length
- Maximum age
- History enforcement
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Account Lockout
- Lockout duration
- Lockout threshold
- Reset counter
- Unlock procedures
Access Control
File System Security
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NTFS Permissions
- Basic permissions
- Advanced permissions
- Inheritance
- Special permissions
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Share Permissions
- Share creation
- Permission levels
- Hidden shares
- Administrative shares
Resource Access
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Network Access
- Network shares
- Remote desktop
- Remote administration
- File and printer sharing
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Application Access
- Application permissions
- URL authorization
- Application pools
- COM security
Security Policies
Local Security Policy
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Account Policies
- Password policy
- Account lockout policy
- Kerberos policy
- User rights
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Security Options
- Network security
- Audit policy
- User Account Control
- Recovery console
Group Policy Security
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Security Settings
- Security templates
- Security compliance
- Security filtering
- WMI filtering
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Policy Processing
- Policy inheritance
- Policy precedence
- Loopback processing
- Slow link processing
Network Security
Firewall Configuration
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Windows Firewall
- Profile management
- Rule creation
- Rule groups
- Connection security
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Advanced Security
- IPsec policies
- Authentication
- Encryption
- Connection monitoring
Network Protection
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Network Access Protection
- Health policies
- Enforcement methods
- Remediation
- Monitoring
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Network Isolation
- Network segmentation
- VLAN configuration
- DMZ setup
- Proxy settings
Encryption and Certificates
BitLocker
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Drive Encryption
- System drive
- Data drives
- Removable drives
- Network shares
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Key Management
- Recovery keys
- TPM configuration
- USB key storage
- Active Directory backup
Certificate Services
-
Certificate Authority
- CA setup
- Certificate templates
- Enrollment policies
- Key archival
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Certificate Deployment
- Auto-enrollment
- Web enrollment
- Template management
- Revocation
Auditing and Monitoring
Event Auditing
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Audit Policies
- Success auditing
- Failure auditing
- Category selection
- Subcategory configuration
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Event Logs
- Log management
- Log forwarding
- Log analysis
- Alert configuration
Security Monitoring
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Performance Monitoring
- Counter selection
- Baseline creation
- Threshold alerts
- Report generation
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Security Tools
- Security compliance
- Vulnerability scanning
- Penetration testing
- Security baselines
Backup and Recovery
Backup Configuration
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Backup Types
- System state
- Full backup
- Incremental backup
- Differential backup
-
Backup Strategy
- Schedule configuration
- Storage location
- Retention policy
- Verification
Disaster Recovery
-
Recovery Planning
- Recovery procedures
- Recovery time objectives
- Recovery point objectives
- Testing procedures
-
System Recovery
- Boot options
- Safe mode
- Recovery console
- System restore
Best Practices
Security Hardening
-
Server Hardening
- Role-based configuration
- Service hardening
- Registry security
- File system security
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Security Baselines
- Security templates
- Compliance checking
- Remediation
- Documentation
Maintenance
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Regular Tasks
- Security updates
- Patch management
- Configuration review
- Access review
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Security Review
- Audit review
- Policy review
- Risk assessment
- Compliance checking