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The 25 most important Group Policies to change for high security for Windows users - 03-22-2023

As an IT consultant and business owner, I understand the importance of securing your business computer network. One way to do this is by implementing Group Policies that limit access and control over your system. In this article, I will outline the top 25 group policies to change for high security and provide a brief description of each setting.

The instructions for accessing Group Policy Objects is here.

1. Password Policy - The Password Policy determines the strength of user passwords. By setting this policy to require complex passwords, you can help prevent password cracking attacks.

2. Account Lockout Policy - The Account Lockout Policy determines how many failed login attempts are allowed before a user's account is locked. Setting this policy to a low number can help prevent brute force attacks.

3. Audit Policy - The Audit Policy determines what types of events are recorded in the Security log. By enabling auditing, you can keep track of all the important security events on your computer, such as failed logon attempts or changes to user accounts.

4. Firewall Policy - The firewall policy group policy setting allows you to configure the Windows firewall on your business computer. This is important to block unauthorized access to your computer and protect your network from potential threats.

5. Disable Guest Account - The Guest Account is a default account in Windows that can allow unauthorized users to gain access to your computer. Disabling this account is a quick and easy way to improve your computer's security.

6. Disable LM and NTLMv1 - This group policy setting disables the use of the less secure LM and NTLMv1 authentication protocols on your business computer. These protocols are vulnerable to attacks and should be disabled to prevent unauthorized access. Use NTLMv2 instead to increase security.

7. Restrict Anonymous Access - This policy restricts anonymous access to the computer network, preventing attackers from gaining access to resources without proper authentication.

8. Disable Autoplay - This policy disables the autoplay feature for removable media such as USB drives, preventing automatic execution of malicious code.

9. Disable AutoRun - This policy disables the autorun feature for removable media, preventing the automatic execution of malicious code.

10. Disable Remote Registry - This policy disables remote access to the computer's registry, preventing attackers from making changes to the registry.

11. Disable Remote Assistance - This policy disables the remote assistance feature, which could be used by attackers to gain control of your computer.

12. Disable Remote Desktop - This policy disables remote desktop access, which could be used by attackers to gain access to your computer.

13. Disable NetBIOS - This policy disables the NetBIOS protocol, which is often used by attackers to gain unauthorized access.

14. Disable Server Message Block - This policy disables the SMB protocol, which is often used by attackers to gain unauthorized access.

15. Disable Link-Layer Topology Discovery - This policy disables the Link-Layer Topology Discovery protocol, which is often used by attackers to map out your network.

16. Disable Windows Script Host - This policy disables the Windows Script Host, which could be used by attackers to execute malicious scripts.

17. Disable PowerShell Scripting - This policy disables PowerShell scripting, which could be used by attackers to execute malicious code.

18. Disable USB Mass Storage Devices - This policy disables the use of USB mass storage devices, preventing data theft or malware infection from USB drives.

19. Disable Bluetooth - This policy disables the Bluetooth feature, preventing attackers from gaining access to your computer through Bluetooth.

20. Disable WLAN - This policy disables the WLAN feature, preventing attackers from gaining access to your computer through Wi-Fi.

21. Disable IPv6 - This policy disables the IPv6 protocol, which is often used by attackers to gain unauthorized access.

22. Disable SMBv1 - This policy disables the SMBv1 protocol, which is often used by attackers to gain unauthorized access.

23. Disable Remote Management - This policy disables remote management, preventing attackers from gaining control of your computer.

24. Disable LLMNR - This policy disables the LLMNR protocol, which is often used by attackers to gain unauthorized access.

25. Disable NBT-NS - This Group Policy disables NetBIOS over TCP/IP, which can help prevent a variety of attacks, including denial of service attacks and password cracking attacks.

Configuring Group Policies (GPO) is an essential aspect of securing your business computer. GPOs help you manage the settings and configurations for multiple users and computers from a single point. In this section, we will explain three methods to access and configure GPO Group Policies on your desktop screen.

Method 1: Using the Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to edit and manage GPOs for a single computer. To access the Local Group Policy Editor, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type "gpedit.msc" in the box and click OK.
Once the Local Group Policy Editor opens, navigate to the GPO you want to configure and make the necessary changes.

Method 2: Using the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
The Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is a tool that allows you to manage GPOs for multiple computers and users in a domain environment. To access the GPMC, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type "gpmc.msc" in the box and click OK.
Once the Group Policy Management Console opens, navigate to the GPO you want to configure and make the necessary changes.

Method 3: Using PowerShell
PowerShell is a command-line tool that allows you to automate administrative tasks, including managing GPOs. To access PowerShell, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type "powershell" in the box and click OK.
Once PowerShell opens, type "Set-GPRegistryValue" to set a registry value for a GPO or "Set-GPPermissions" to set permissions for a GPO.

In conclusion, there are multiple methods to access and configure GPO Group Policies on your desktop screen. You can use the Local Group Policy Editor for a single computer, the Group Policy Management Console for multiple computers and users in a domain environment, and PowerShell to automate administrative tasks. Regardless of the method you choose, it's essential to understand which GPOs to configure and what settings to apply for high security. With this knowledge, you can keep your business computer secure and protected from potential security threats.