Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Like most organizations, your company likely invested in various Microsoft products. The Microsoft ecosystem provides businesses with nearly every kind of technology necessary, from workstation operating systems to Azure to Windows 365 that includes cloud-native versions of their traditional Office tools and the communication platform Teams. However, attackers are just as invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

The cybersecurity landscape is undergoing a significant shift, moving from security tools monitoring applications running within userspace to advanced, real-time approaches that monitor system activity directly and safely within the kernel by using eBPF. This evolution in kernel introspection is particularly evident in the adoption of projects like Falco, Tetragon, and Tracee in Linux environments.

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.

To most people, the process of logging into a Microsoft Windows machine is a simple process of entering a username and a password. However, for a cybersecurity professional, the process is a carefully orchestrated mechanism. Unfortunately, throughout the history of the various Windows operating system versions, criminals have also sought ways to disrupt this process in order to breach a network. The primary target of these attacks is the Security Account Manager (SAM).

Windows PowerShell is a powerful scripting language and a command-line executor developed by Microsoft to provide a better interface for system administrators to simplify managing and automating administrative tasks. PowerShell was launched in 2006 and has been a standard feature of the Windows operating system (OS) since Windows 7, enabling system administrators to simplify and automate administrative tasks while following essential security best practices.

While NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System) has been historically used for local network communication, it has several security vulnerabilities and limitations, and its use has diminished over time. Here are some reasons why someone might want to disable NetBIOS: Broadcast Traffic: NetBIOS relies on broadcast traffic for name resolution, which can lead to network congestion and inefficiency, especially in larger networks.

User Account Control (UAC) serves as a security feature in Windows, aiming to safeguard the operating system from unauthorized modifications. Whenever alterations demand administrator-level permissions, UAC prompts the user, allowing them to either authorize or reject the requested change.

The Audit Kernel Object feature dictates whether the operating system records audit events when users try to access the system kernel, encompassing mutexes and semaphores. Security audit events are generated exclusively for kernel objects with a corresponding System Access Control List (SACL). Typically kernel objects are only given SACLs if the AuditBaseObjects or AuditBaseDirectories auditing options are enabled.

Windows 11 is the new and trending operating system in the industry. Everyone, from end-users and administrators to software developers, is using it. However, there’s still a question: what exactly does Windows 11 hold for developers? Moving from one OS version to another can be a lot of change for software curators. So, here we have gathered all the details about Windows 11 functionalities and features, helping developers improve efficiency, build high-end apps, and streamline workflow.

Microsoft implements enhanced connection and encryption and removes outdated SMB1 firewall rules to improve Windows 11 security. Microsoft’s most recent Windows 11 Insider Preview Build includes a significant change to handling firewall rules, especially the outdated SMB1 protocol. By mimicking the actions of the Windows Server “File Server” role, the new method seeks to give customers a better level of network security.