LAN Manager (LM) authentication level is a security setting that determines how Windows systems authenticate network connections. It is a legacy authentication protocol developed by Microsoft for use in older versions of Windows network operations. There are three main protocols involved in LAN Manager Authentication: The LAN Manager Authentication Level setting allows you to choose which protocols your system will use or accept for authentication.

The “Network access: Restrict clients allowed to make remote calls to SAM” security policy setting manages which users are permitted to view the list of users and groups stored in both the local Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database and Active Directory through remote calls. This policy setting allows you to restrict remote RPC connections to SAM. If not selected, the default security descriptor will be used.

Cipher suites are a set of cryptographic algorithms utilized by the schannel SSP implementation of TLS/SSL protocols. These algorithms are employed to generate keys and encrypt data. Each cipher suite designates specific algorithms for the following functions: In TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3, the NSA suggests using cryptographic settings that meet the standards in CNSSP 15, known as Commercial National Security Algorithms.

Kernel Direct Memory Access (DMA) Protection is a security feature in Windows designed to prevent unauthorized access to memory by external peripherals. Kernel DMA Protection requires UEFI firmware support, and Virtualization-based Security (VBS) isn’t required. Kernel DMA Protection offers enhanced security measures for the system compared to the countermeasures against BitLocker DMA attacks, all while preserving the usability of external peripherals.

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.

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.