Quick & Easy Group Policy Objects To Reduce Risk

As an administrator, securing your organization’s network and data is a top priority. One of the most effective ways to improve your organization’s cybersecurity posture is by implementing strong Group Policy defaults.

Group Policy is a Windows feature that allows you to manage users and computers in your network. With Group Policy, you can enforce security policies, configure settings, and deploy software across your organization. By setting strong Group Policy defaults, you can ensure that all devices in your network are secured and compliant with your organization’s security policies.

This article is meant to give small enterprise administrators a couple of quick and easy settings they can enable to improve their security posture. For more in depth articles around complicated configurations, check out these articles on the blog!

https://tridentstack.com/2023/03/13/preventing-initial-access-via-end-user-manipulation-in-windows/

https://tridentstack.com/2023/03/20/securing-ipv6-in-small-enterprise

Here are some best practices to help you configure strong Group Policy defaults:

Password Policy Enforcing a strong password policy is critical to securing your organization’s network. With Group Policy, you can enforce password complexity requirements, and minimum password length. An account lockout policy can help prevent brute-force attacks by locking out user accounts after a specified number of failed login attempts. With Group Policy, you can configure the account lockout threshold, duration, and reset time. It’s essential to set reasonable values to avoid locking out legitimate users accidentally. The Group Policy path for password and account lockout policies is Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Account Policies.

Firewall Policy can help protect your organization’s network by blocking unauthorized traffic and allowing only authorized traffic. With Group Policy, you can configure Windows Firewall settings, including port filtering, inbound and outbound rules, and connection security rules. The Group Policy path for Windows Firewall settings is Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
We’ve written another incredibly complex article on localhost firewall-based microsegmentation with encryption using the windows firewall. Check it out!
https://tridentstack.com/2023/04/06/domain-isolation-with-windows-firewall/

Software Restriction Policy can help prevent malware and other malicious software from executing on devices in your network. With Group Policy, you can restrict the execution of unauthorized software based on the software’s file path, hash, or publisher. It’s essential to allow only trusted software to run on devices in your network. Tools like threatlocker are a great start. The Group Policy path for software restriction policies is: Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Software Restriction Policies.

Internet Explorer Security Policy If you use Internet Explorer in your organization, it’s essential to configure its security settings to prevent attacks such as cross-site scripting and drive-by downloads. With Group Policy, you can configure Internet Explorer security zones, ActiveX controls, and download settings. The recommended Group Policy setting is the “Encrypting File System (EFS) Policy”. The Group Policy path for this setting is Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Public Key Policies.

User Rights Assignment Policy can help you control which users and groups have access to specific resources and perform specific tasks. With Group Policy, you can configure settings such as the ability to log on locally, shut down the system, and manage auditing and security log events. The Group Policy path for User Rights Assignment is Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment.

Wireless Network Policy: If your organization uses wireless networks, it’s essential to configure security settings to prevent unauthorized access and data theft. With Group Policy, you can configure wireless network settings such as SSID, encryption, and authentication. By implementing these additional Group Policy defaults, you can further enhance your organization’s cybersecurity posture and reduce the risk of security breaches. It’s essential to review your Group Policy settings regularly to ensure that they align with your organization’s security policies and industry standards. The Group Policy path for Wireless Network Policy is: Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies.

Windows Update Policy: Keeping your devices up to date with the latest security patches is crucial in maintaining a secure network. With Group Policy, you can configure Windows Update settings to ensure that all devices in your network receive critical security updates automatically. Patching solutions such as Automox, ManageEngine, or WSUS are recommended. However Windows update settings are in the following directory. The Group Policy path for Windows Update settings is Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update.

BitLocker Drive Encryption can help protect your organization’s data by encrypting the entire disk drive. With Group Policy, you can configure BitLocker settings such as the encryption algorithm, recovery options, and authentication methods. The Group Policy path for BitLocker settings is: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\BitLocker Drive Encryption. Here are some additional recommended BitLocker settings to help improve your organization’s cybersecurity posture:

Require additional authentication at startup Enabling this setting requires users to enter a PIN, USB key, or both at startup to authenticate the device. This provides an additional layer of security and helps prevent unauthorized access to the device. Block write access to removable drives not protected by BitLocker Enabling this setting prevents users from copying data to unencrypted removable drives. This helps ensure that all data is encrypted and protected by BitLocker. Configure minimum PIN length for startup Enabling this setting requires users to create a PIN of a specified length to authenticate the device at startup. The longer the PIN, the stronger the authentication.
By configuring these additional BitLocker settings, you can further enhance your organization’s cybersecurity posture and reduce the risk of security breaches. It’s essential to review your Group Policy settings regularly to ensure that they align with your organization’s security policies and industry standards.

Network Access Protection is a crucial tool in safeguarding your network from potential security threats. This feature ensures that all devices attempting to connect to your network meet the security standards set by your organization. This is achieved by configuring settings such as health policies, system health validators, and remediation server settings through Group Policy. By implementing Network Access Protection, you can rest assured that your network is secure from unauthorized access and that all devices connecting to it are compliant with the established security policies. This helps to mitigate the risk of data breaches and other potential security threats. Additionally, this feature allows for greater control and customization of the security measures in place in your organization, making it easier to tailor the security settings to fit your specific needs. The Group Policy path for Network Access Protection is Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\System Services.

Advanced Threat Protection can help you detect and respond to advanced threats that may be missed by traditional security solutions. With Group Policy, you can configure settings such as behavior-based detection, exploit protection, and network protection. Here are some advanced threat protection policy settings that we recommend configuring using Group Policy, along with their corresponding Group Policy path.

Remote Desktop Services can allow remote access to devices in your organization’s network. With Group Policy, you can configure settings such as session timeouts, encryption levels, and user authentication. Here are some recommended configurations for Remote Desktop Services Policy, along with their corresponding Group Policy paths:

Credential Guard is a security feature in Windows that can help protect your organization’s sensitive information, such as passwords and Kerberos tickets, from attackers. With Group Policy, you can configure settings such as virtualization-based security, code integrity policies, and user mode code integrity. Here are some recommended Credential Guard policies to help protect your organization’s sensitive information, along with their corresponding Group Policy paths:

Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical component of your organization’s network infrastructure that translates domain names into IP addresses. With Group Policy, you can configure DNS settings such as forwarders, root hints, and caching. To configure DNS settings, use the following Group Policy path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\DNS Client. Here are some recommended DNS client settings:

User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature in Windows that can help prevent unauthorized changes to your organization’s devices. With Group Policy, you can configure UAC settings such as prompt behavior, consent behavior, and remote UAC. Here are some User Account Control (UAC) policies we recommend configuring using Group Policy, along with their corresponding Group Policy paths:

Detect application installations and prompt for elevation: This policy requires that users provide consent before applications can install or make changes to the system. To configure this setting, go to Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options, and enable the "User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation" policy setting.

Only elevate executables that are signed and validated: This policy requires that executables be signed and validated before they can be elevated. To configure this setting, go to Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options, and enable the "User Account Control: Only elevate executables that are signed and validated" policy setting.

Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations: This policy requires that UIAccess applications be installed in secure locations before they can be elevated. To configure this setting, go to Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options, and enable the "User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations" policy setting.

Conclusion

Implementing strong Group Policy defaults is a critical step in securing your organization’s network and data. By enforcing password policies, configuring firewall settings, and restricting unauthorized software execution, you can reduce the risk of security breaches and ensure compliance with industry standards. It’s essential to review your Group Policy settings regularly to ensure that they align with your organization’s security policies and industry standards. By following these best practices, you can enhance your organization’s cybersecurity posture and protect your network and data from potential threats.