Windows permits an anonymous user to carry out specific actions, such as listing the names of domain accounts and network shares. This functionality proves useful in scenarios when an administrator needs to provide access to users in a trusted domain lacking a reciprocal trust agreement. By default, the Everyone security identifier (SID) is excluded from the token generated for anonymous connections. Consequently, permissions assigned to the Everyone group don’t extend to anonymous users.

The SQL Server Audit object gathers individual occurrences of server or database-level actions and sets of actions for monitoring purposes. This audit operates at the SQL Server instance level, allowing for multiple audits per instance. Upon defining an audit, you designate the destination for result output. Before beginning a SQL Server audit pay attention to the limitations and restrictions associated with database audit specifications.

Interactive logon: Machine inactivity limit is among the 9 Interactive logon security settings. If a user hasn’t been active on their Windows session for a while and surpasses the set limit, this setting typically controls the duration of inactivity allowed before the user is automatically logged out of their session on a machine. The recommended state for this setting is: 900 or fewer second(s), but not 0.

Access Control Entry (ACE) is data within an access control list detailing the access privileges assigned to an individual user or a collective group of users. In the Access Control Entry system each ACE is associated with an identification (ID) that distinguishes the specific individual or group of subjects.

SDDL, or Security Descriptor Definition Language, defines the string format that the ConvertSecurityDescriptorToStringSecurityDescriptor and ConvertStringSecurityDescriptorToSecurityDescriptor functions use to describe the security settings of an object in Windows as a text string. Think of it like a simple language for defining who can access an object (like a file, folder, or registry key) and what they can do with it.

The PCI Security Standards Council requires all payment processors and merchants to move to TLS 1.2 and above. Organizations that don’t follow this standard do not meet PCI DSS.

The NIST SP 800-123 Guide to General Server Security contains NIST recommendations on how to secure your servers. It offers general advice and guideline on how you should approach this mission. Its aim is to assist organizations in understanding the fundamental activities they nee dto undertake to secure their servers. Regulations such as HIPAA, HITRUST, CMMC, and many others rely on those recommendations, demanding organizations to enforce and comply with the guide.

Print Spooler is a component integrated into the Windows operating system, designed to temporarily hold print jobs in the computer’s memory until the printer is prepared to execute them.

Windows Task Scheduler, previously known as Scheduled Tasks, is a powerful job scheduler built into Microsoft Windows. Its primary function is to launch computer programs or scripts at specific times or intervals predetermined by the user. Introduced as System Agent in Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95, Task Scheduler Windows has evolved into a core component of the Windows operating system.

When planning a hardening project for information security, there are two types of impact analysis to consider – policy impact analysis and security impact analysis. Policy impact analysis refers to generating a report that indicates each policy rule’s impact on your production. It is especially important for avoiding system downtime caused by configuration changes. The second type of impact analysis is Security Impact Analysis.