Ever wonder what steps you can take to make your computer more secure and even approach industry standards? Let's take a look at the key recommendations!
Windows 11 is the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft, packed with new features and improvements. But with all these new features comes new risks, making it more important than ever to protect your device from cyber threats. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to harden Windows 11 and keep your device safe and secure. In this article, we'll explore ten hardening recommendations for Windows 11 that can help you do just that!
Enable Secure Boot: Secure Boot is a feature that helps prevent unauthorized boot loaders and drivers from running during startup. It ensures that only trusted software is allowed to run on the system. Enabling Secure Boot can help protect your device from malware and other threats that try to load before the operating system.
Enable BitLocker: BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that can help protect data from unauthorized access in case the device is lost or stolen. With BitLocker, the contents of the hard drive are encrypted and can only be accessed with the appropriate password or key.
Disable Unnecessary Services and Protocols: Disabling unnecessary services and protocols can help reduce the attack surface of the system. Only enable services and protocols that are needed for business operations. For example, if you're not using Bluetooth on your device, consider disabling the Bluetooth service to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Implement Strong Password Policies: Password policies should enforce complex and long passwords, and regular password changes. Use a password manager to ensure strong and unique passwords.
Configure Firewall Settings: The built-in Windows Firewall can be configured to restrict inbound and outbound network traffic. Configure it to block incoming traffic from unauthorized sources and limit outbound traffic to only authorized destinations.
Keep Windows 11 and Applications Up-to-Date: Regularly apply updates and patches to Windows 11 and applications to address known vulnerabilities and ensure that the system is protected against the latest threats. Enable automatic updates to ensure that your device stays up-to-date with the latest security patches.
Enable Controlled Folder Access: Controlled Folder Access is a feature that can prevent unauthorized applications from accessing sensitive data by restricting access to specific folders. This helps protect against ransomware and other threats that try to encrypt or modify sensitive data.
Configure User Account Control (UAC): UAC is a feature that prompts users for permission before allowing applications to make changes to the system. Configure UAC to a higher setting to reduce the risk of unauthorized changes to the system.
Implement Application Control: Application Control is a feature that restricts the execution of applications based on their reputation and trustworthiness. Configure Application Control to only allow trusted applications to run. This helps protect against malware and other threats that try to execute on the system.
Use Windows Defender Antivirus: Windows Defender Antivirus is a built-in antivirus solution that can help protect against malware and other threats. Ensure that it is enabled and updated regularly to provide ongoing protection against the latest threats.
By implementing these hardening recommendations for Windows 11, you can help ensure that your device is protected against known vulnerabilities and cyber threats. Remember to always follow best practices for online security, such as avoiding suspicious links and emails, and using caution when downloading files from the internet. Stay safe out there!
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