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Mastering Windows Security and Hardening - Second Edition

You're reading from Mastering Windows Security and Hardening - Second Edition

Product type Book

Published in Aug 2022

Publisher Packt

ISBN-13 9781803236544

Pages 816 pages

Edition 2nd Edition

Languages

Concepts

Authors (2):

Mark Dunkerley

Matt Tumbarello

View More author details

Table of Contents (21) Chapters

Preface

1. Part 1: Getting Started and Fundamentals

2. Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Windows Security

3. Chapter 2: Building a Baseline

4. Chapter 3: Hardware and Virtualization

5. Chapter 4: Networking Fundamentals for Hardening Windows

6. Chapter 5: Identity and Access Management

7. Part 2: Applying Security and Hardening

8. Chapter 6: Administration and Policy Management

9. Chapter 7: Deploying Windows Securely

10. Chapter 8: Keeping Your Windows Client Secure

11. Chapter 9: Advanced Hardening for Windows Clients

12. Chapter 10: Mitigating Common Attack Vectors

13. Chapter 11: Server Infrastructure Management

14. Chapter 12: Keeping Your Windows Server Secure

15. Part 3: Protecting, Detecting, and Responding for Windows Environments

16. Chapter 13: Security Monitoring and Reporting

17. Chapter 14: Security Operations

18. Chapter 15: Testing and Auditing

19. Chapter 16: Top 10 Recommendations and the Future

20. Other Books You May Enjoy

Configuring Windows updates

One of the top recommendations for hardening Windows Server is to run the latest version of the OS with the latest security patches installed. To be able to install the latest updates, the Windows machine must be able to download and install updates directly from Windows Update or a software update distribution point. Just like Windows clients, you can configure Windows Update for Business policies on servers with Group Policy, but this won't allow for fine-grained control regarding the approval and timing of update deployments. To accommodate this scenario, WSUS has been the standard method for deploying Windows updates for on-premises deployments.

WSUS allows companies to effectively manage, distribute, and orchestrate update installations to clients and servers to maintain security compliance and patch-level continuity within the environment. A WSUS deployment is a great method for deploying updates, but it does have prerequisites that require...

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Authors (2)

Mark Dunkerley

Mark Dunkerley is a cybersecurity and technology leader with over 20 years of experience working in higher education, healthcare, and Fortune 100 companies. Mark has extensive knowledge in IT architecture and cybersecurity through delivering secure technology solutions and services. He has experience in cloud technologies, vulnerability management, vendor risk management, identity and access management, security operations, security testing, awareness and training, application and data security, incident and response management, regulatory and compliance, and more. Mark holds a master's degree in business administration and has received certifications through (ISC)², AirWatch, Microsoft, CompTIA, VMware, AXELOS, Cisco, and EMC. Mark has spoken at multiple events, is a published author, sits on customer advisory boards, has published several case studies, and is featured as one of Security magazine's 2022 Top Cybersecurity Leaders.

See other products by Mark Dunkerley

Matt Tumbarello

Matt Tumbarello is a senior solutions architect. He has extensive experience working with the Microsoft security stack, Azure, Microsoft 365, Intune, Configuration Manager, and virtualization technologies. He also has a background working directly with Fortune 500 executives in a technical enablement role. Matt has published reviews for Azure security products, privileged access management vendors, and mobile threat defense solutions. He also holds several Microsoft certifications.

See other products by Matt Tumbarello

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