Securing Windows 11 by Group Policies

Securing Windows 11 using Group Policy involves configuring various security settings to protect your system and network.

Windows group policy

Group Policy is a feature in Microsoft Windows operating systems that allows administrators to define and enforce system settings, security policies, and configurations for user accounts and computers in a networked environment. Group Policy provides a centralized way to manage and control the behavior and settings of Windows-based systems, making it an essential tool for system administrators to maintain security, consistency, and manageability across a network.

Here are some key aspects of Windows Group Policy:

  1. Centralized Management: Group Policy allows administrators to configure settings for multiple computers and users from a single, centralized location, typically from a Windows Server-based domain controller.
  2. Granular Control: Group Policy provides granular control over various aspects of the Windows operating system, including security settings, registry settings, software installation, user rights, folder redirection, and more.
  3. Organizational Units (OUs): Group Policy objects (GPOs) are typically linked to Organizational Units (OUs) within the Active Directory domain. This allows administrators to apply different policies to different groups of users or computers based on their organizational structure.
  4. Security Policies: Administrators can use Group Policy to enforce security policies such as password complexity requirements, account lockout policies, firewall settings, and more.
  5. Software Deployment: Group Policy can be used to deploy and manage software installations across networked computers. This includes the ability to install, update, or remove software applications on targeted machines.
  6. Script Execution: Group Policy can be configured to run scripts (e.g., login scripts or startup scripts) on user or computer logon and logoff, allowing for additional customization and automation.
  7. User Profile Management: Administrators can use Group Policy to manage user profiles, including folder redirection for user data, roaming profiles, and folder permissions.
  8. Auditing and Reporting: Group Policy allows for the auditing of policy changes and provides reporting capabilities to track policy enforcement and compliance.
  9. Group Policy Objects (GPOs): GPOs are containers for policy settings. They can be created and linked to OUs in Active Directory, and multiple GPOs can be applied to a single OU or user/computer.
  10. Group Policy Inheritance: Group Policies are applied in a hierarchical manner, with settings from parent OUs flowing down to child OUs. Administrators can control the order of GPO processing to manage conflicts.
  11. Group Policy Editor: The Group Policy Editor is a management tool used to create, edit, and configure Group Policy settings. It’s available on Windows Server versions and some Windows client editions (e.g., Windows Pro and Enterprise).
  12. Security Filtering: Administrators can apply security filtering to specify which users or groups a GPO should apply to, allowing for fine-grained control over policy targeting.

Overall, Group Policy is a powerful and flexible tool that plays a crucial role in managing Windows-based networks, ensuring security compliance, and streamlining administrative tasks. It is commonly used in enterprise environments to maintain consistency, security, and efficiency across a large number of networked computers and users.

Accessing Group Policy Editor in Windows 11

  • Open the Run Dialog: You can open the Run dialog by pressing Win + R on your keyboard. This will bring up a small “Run” window.
  • Enter gpedit.msc: In the Run window, type gpedit.msc and then press Enter or click “OK.” This command will open the Group Policy Editor.
Group Policy Editor in Windows 11

Security settings in Windows 11 group policy

Here are some key security settings you can configure using Group Policy:

1. Account Policies:

  • Password Policy: Navigate to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Password Policy. Configure settings like password length, complexity requirements, and expiration policies.
  • Account Lockout Policy: Under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Account Lockout Policy, configure settings related to account lockout thresholds and duration.

2. Local Policies:

  • User Rights Assignment: Control which users or groups have specific rights on the system under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment.
  • Security Options: Configure various security-related options under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options. Examples include user rights assignments, audit policies, and other security-related settings.

3. Windows Firewall Settings:

  • Use Group Policy to manage the Windows Firewall settings under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. Create and manage firewall rules to control inbound and outbound network traffic.

4. Software Restriction Policies/AppLocker:

  • Control which software can run on Windows 11 machines through Software Restriction Policies or AppLocker. Configure these policies under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies.

5. BitLocker Encryption:

  • Configure BitLocker settings under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption to enforce disk encryption and protect data on storage devices.

6. Windows Update Settings:

  • Control Windows Update behavior through Group Policies found under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update. Configure settings such as update schedules and update source locations.

7. Security Auditing:

  • Enable and configure security auditing policies to monitor system activity and detect security incidents. Configure these policies under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Advanced Audit Policy Configuration.

8. AppLocker:

  • Use AppLocker policies to control which applications can run on Windows 11 computers. You can configure these policies under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies > AppLocker.

9. Network Security Policies:

  • Configure IPSec policies for network security under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > IP Security Policies on Active Directory.

These are some of the key security settings you can configure using Group Policy in Windows 11. The specific settings and policies you choose to configure will depend on your organization’s security requirements and best practices. Always thoroughly test policy changes in a controlled environment before applying them to production systems, and regularly review and update your security policies to adapt to evolving threats.

Disable or Restrict USB Drives

Disabling or restricting USB drives using Group Policy in Windows 11 can help enhance security by preventing unauthorized data transfers and reducing the risk of malware infections through removable storage devices. Here’s how you can disable or restrict USB drives using Group Policy:

Note: You’ll need administrative privileges on your Windows 11 computer to configure Group Policy settings.

Open the Group Policy Editor:

  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to the Appropriate Policy Section:

  • In the Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access.

Configure USB Drive Policies: A. Disable USB Drives (Not Recommended):

  • To restrict USB drives so that they are read-only (users can’t write to them but can still read from them), double-click on the “All Removable Storage classes: Allow Read access” policy.
  • Select the “Enabled” option.
  • Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

Apply the Group Policy:

  • Close the Group Policy Editor.

Force Group Policy Update:

  • To ensure that the policy takes effect immediately, open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges (right-click on the Start button and choose “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”).
  • Run the command: gpupdate /force

Restart Your Computer:

  • Restart your computer to apply the policy changes.

After applying these Group Policy settings, USB drives should be either completely disabled or restricted to read-only access on your Windows 11 computer.

Please be aware of the following considerations:

  • Disabling USB drives entirely: This is a drastic step and can inconvenience users who legitimately need to use USB drives for work-related tasks. It should be carefully considered and only used in highly controlled environments.
  • Read-only access: Restricting USB drives to read-only access is a more balanced approach, as it allows users to access data from USB drives but prevents them from writing or executing files from these drives. This can help reduce the risk of malware infection through USB drives.
  • Test thoroughly: Before implementing these policies in a production environment, thoroughly test them to ensure they meet your security requirements without causing undue disruption.
  • Backup data: If you restrict USB drives to read-only access, make sure users have alternative methods for transferring data to and from the computer. Backup important data on your computer before applying any policy changes.

BitLocker Encryption setting in windows 11

BitLocker is a disk encryption feature available in Windows 11 that helps protect data on your computer by encrypting entire disk drives. Below are the key BitLocker encryption settings and details you can configure in Windows 11:

1. BitLocker Drive Encryption Policies:

  • To configure BitLocker settings through Group Policy, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption.

2. Operating System Drives:

  • BitLocker can be used to encrypt the operating system drive (usually the C: drive). Key settings for OS drive encryption include:
  • Require additional authentication at startup: You can enable this policy to require a PIN or a USB key to be inserted at system startup for additional authentication.
  • Choose how BitLocker-protected operating system drives can be recovered: Configure recovery key storage options. It’s important to plan where and how recovery keys are stored securely.

3. Fixed Data Drives:

  • BitLocker can also be used to encrypt fixed data drives (additional hard drives or partitions). Settings include:
  • Choose how BitLocker-protected fixed data drives can be recovered: Similar to the OS drive, this policy allows you to configure recovery key storage options for fixed data drives.

4. Removable Data Drives:

  • You can configure BitLocker settings for removable data drives such as USB flash drives. Settings include:
  • Choose how BitLocker-protected removable drives can be recovered: Similar to other drive types, this policy lets you configure recovery key storage options for removable data drives.

5. Group Policy BitLocker Encryption Options:

  • In each of the categories (Operating System Drives, Fixed Data Drives, and Removable Data Drives), you can further configure options such as:
  • Choose drive encryption method and cipher strength: This allows you to specify encryption algorithms and key strengths (e.g., AES-128 or AES-256).
  • Choose how users can recover BitLocker-protected drives: Configure how users can recover their drives if they forget their PIN or password.
  • Control use of BitLocker on removable drives: Specify whether users can enable BitLocker on removable drives.

6. BitLocker Recovery Key Management:

  • BitLocker generates recovery keys that can be used to unlock drives in case of forgotten passwords or other issues. Ensure that you configure a secure storage location for these recovery keys, such as Active Directory or a dedicated key management service.

7. TPM (Trusted Platform Module) Settings:

  • BitLocker relies on TPM for hardware-based security. You can configure TPM settings in the BIOS or UEFI firmware, and BitLocker can enforce specific TPM requirements as part of its settings.

8. Pre-Boot Authentication:

  • If you enable pre-boot authentication (requiring a PIN or USB key at startup), users will need to enter the PIN or insert the USB key to access the drive.

Please note that configuring BitLocker requires careful planning and consideration of your organization’s security requirements and compliance standards. Ensure that you have proper backup and recovery mechanisms in place, and document your BitLocker encryption settings for reference. Testing BitLocker settings in a controlled environment before deploying them to production systems is also recommended.

Summery

Securing Windows 11 through Group Policies is a foundational practice for bolstering system security. By configuring account policies, firewall settings, software restrictions, and other security measures, organizations can mitigate vulnerabilities and maintain consistency across their network. Implementing best practices, conducting thorough testing, and adapting policies to evolving threats are crucial steps. Security filtering enables tailored policy application, while regular monitoring and documentation ensure ongoing protection. Through diligent management of Group Policies, Windows 11 environments can remain resilient against potential security risks, providing a robust defense for data and systems.

See also

https://spca.education/category/spca-tutorials/

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/06/24/introducing-windows-11/

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