

When you install Windows Server, immediately update it with the latest patches using WSUS or SCCM.You can use the Security Configuration Wizard for this purpose. Create a system configuration based on the specific role that is needed.Ensure that the system does not shut down during installation.Configure the device boot order to prevent unauthorized booting from alternate media.Disable automatic administrative logon to the recovery console.Set a strong BIOS/firmware password to prevent unauthorized changes to the server’s settings.Harden new servers in a network that is not open to the internet. Protect new servers from potentially hostile network traffic until the operating system is fully hardened.Keep all servers at the same revision level to simplify configuration management.Use the results to update your risk management plan and maintain a prioritized list of all servers to ensure that security vulnerabilities are fixed in a timely manner.
#Windows server 2008 security guide software#
Thoroughly test and validate every proposed change to server hardware or software before making the change in the production environment.Review and minimize the applications installed on each server to reduce risk.Maintain an inventory record for each server that clearly documents its baseline configuration and records every change to the server.

Configuration Managementīefore diving into detailed secure configuration guidance, it’s worth reviewing some broader security best practices for developing, documenting and managing your configurations: Keep in mind that although server hardening is vital to cybersecurity, you also need to implement appropriate controls and processes, increase security awareness across the enterprise and follow other critical data security best practices. You can get additional guidance from the Center for Internet Security (CIS) and the US Department of Defense Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG). Your goal should be to establish security baselines tailored for your environment that reduce your attack surface and improve information security. This guide provides a comprehensive checklist of Windows Server hardening best practices for strengthening your security and compliance posture and protecting your vital systems and data. By investing a little time in WindowsServer hardening - identifying and remediating security vulnerabilities that threat actors could exploit - you can dramatically reduce your risk of costly breaches and business disruptions from attacks, malware (including ransomware), and other cyber threats. But the server will almost certainly be optimized for ease of use, often at the expense of cyber security. Deploying servers in their default state is the quickest way to get the job done.
