13.3 2.5 Lab Configure Windows Local Security Policy

The Windows Local Security Policy is a powerful tool that allows administrators to manage security settings on individual computers. It provides a centralized location to configure various security aspects, such as password policies, account lockout policies, audit policies, and user rights assignments. This article provides a comprehensive guide to configuring Windows Local Security Policy.

Understanding Windows Local Security Policy

Windows Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) is a management console snap-in that allows you to configure security settings directly on a Windows computer, rather than relying on domain-level policies pushed out by a central server. It is particularly useful for standalone machines or computers that are not part of a domain.

What Can You Configure?

The Local Security Policy allows you to configure several key security areas:

Account Policies: These control password complexity, password history, and account lockout behavior.
Local Policies: These manage audit policies, user rights assignments, and security options.
Event Log: Settings for configuring the size and retention of security logs.
Restricted Groups: Define which users or groups can be members of sensitive groups.
System Services: Configure startup modes and permissions for system services.
Registry: Security settings that apply to registry keys.
File System: Security settings that apply to files and folders.
Wireless Network Policies: (If applicable) Security settings for wireless network connections.
Public Key Policies: Manage trusted root certification authorities and other certificate-related settings.
Application Control Policies: (AppLocker) Define rules to control which applications can run.
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security: Configure firewall rules for inbound and outbound traffic.
IP Security Policies on Local Computer: (Deprecated, but may be present on older systems) Configure IPsec policies.
Advanced Audit Policy Configuration: Fine-grained control over auditing events.

Why Configure Local Security Policy?

Configuring the Local Security Policy is essential for several reasons:

Enhanced Security: Properly configured policies help protect against unauthorized access, malware, and other security threats.
Compliance: Many regulatory frameworks require specific security configurations.
Hardening: It helps harden your system by reducing the attack surface.
Auditing and Monitoring: It enables you to track security-related events and detect suspicious activity.
Fine-Grained Control: You can customize security settings to meet your specific needs.

Accessing Local Security Policy

To configure the Local Security Policy, you need to access the Local Security Policy editor. Here's how:

Open the Run Dialog: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type secpol.msc: Type secpol.msc and press Enter.
The Local Security Policy Editor: The Local Security Policy editor will open.

Alternative Methods

You can also access the Local Security Policy through the Control Panel or the Command Prompt:

Control Panel:
- Open the Control Panel.
- Go to "System and Security" and then "Administrative Tools."
- Double-click "Local Security Policy."
Command Prompt:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type secpol.msc and press Enter.

Configuring Account Policies

Account policies include password policies and account lockout policies, which help secure user accounts.

Password Policy

The password policy defines the rules for creating and managing passwords. Here’s how to configure it:

Navigate to Password Policy: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to "Account Policies" > "Password Policy."
Enforce Password History: This setting specifies the number of unique new passwords a user must use before an old password can be reused.
- Double-click "Enforce password history."
- Set the number of passwords to remember (e.g., 24).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Maximum Password Age: This setting defines the period a password can be used before the system requires the user to change it.
- Double-click "Maximum password age."
- Set the number of days (e.g., 90).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Minimum Password Age: This setting defines the period a password must be used before the user can change it.
- Double-click "Minimum password age."
- Set the number of days (e.g., 1).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Minimum Password Length: This setting specifies the minimum number of characters a password must contain.
- Double-click "Minimum password length."
- Set the minimum length (e.g., 12 characters).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements: This setting requires passwords to meet certain complexity requirements, such as including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Double-click "Password must meet complexity requirements."
- Ensure it is "Enabled."
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Store Passwords Using Reversible Encryption: This setting is generally disabled as it stores passwords in a less secure way.
- Double-click "Store passwords using reversible encryption for all users in the domain."
- Ensure it is "Disabled."
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Account Lockout Policy

The account lockout policy defines the conditions under which an account will be locked out after multiple failed login attempts.

Navigate to Account Lockout Policy: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to "Account Policies" > "Account Lockout Policy."
Account Lockout Duration: This setting specifies how long an account will be locked out after the lockout threshold is reached.
- Double-click "Account lockout duration."
- Set the duration in minutes (e.g., 30 minutes).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Account Lockout Threshold: This setting specifies the number of invalid login attempts that will cause an account to be locked out.
- Double-click "Account lockout threshold."
- Set the number of invalid attempts (e.g., 5 invalid attempts).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Reset Account Lockout Counter After: This setting specifies the period after which the account lockout counter will be reset.
- Double-click "Reset account lockout counter after."
- Set the duration in minutes (e.g., 30 minutes).
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Configuring Local Policies

Local policies include audit policies, user rights assignments, and security options.

Audit Policy

Audit policies define the types of security-related events that will be logged in the security event log.

Navigate to Audit Policy: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to "Local Policies" > "Audit Policy."
Audit Account Logon Events: Audit events related to account logon attempts.
- Double-click "Audit account logon events."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Account Management: Audit events related to account management activities (e.g., creating, deleting, or modifying user accounts).
- Double-click "Audit account management."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Directory Service Access: Audit events related to access to Active Directory objects.
- Double-click "Audit directory service access."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Logon Events: Audit events related to user logon and logoff activities.
- Double-click "Audit logon events."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Object Access: Audit events related to access to files, folders, and other objects.
- Double-click "Audit object access."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Policy Change: Audit events related to changes in audit policies.
- Double-click "Audit policy change."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Privilege Use: Audit events related to the use of user rights.
- Double-click "Audit privilege use."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit Process Tracking: Audit events related to process creation and termination.
- Double-click "Audit process tracking."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Audit System Events: Audit events related to system-level events, such as system startup and shutdown.
- Double-click "Audit system events."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Note: Auditing can generate a large amount of log data. It’s important to carefully consider which events to audit to avoid overwhelming the system.

User Rights Assignment

User rights determine what actions a user can perform on the system.

Navigate to User Rights Assignment: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to "Local Policies" > "User Rights Assignment."
Adjust Memory Quotas for a Process: Determines which accounts can increase the memory allocation priority of a process.
- Double-click "Adjust memory quotas for a process."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Back Up Files and Directories: Determines which users can bypass file and directory permissions when backing up the system.
- Double-click "Back up files and directories."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Change the System Time: Determines which users can change the system time.
- Double-click "Change the system time."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Create a Pagefile: Determines which users can create a pagefile.
- Double-click "Create a pagefile."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Debug Programs: Determines which users can debug programs.
- Double-click "Debug programs."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Force Shutdown from a Remote System: Determines which users can force a shutdown from a remote system.
- Double-click "Force shutdown from a remote system."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Load and Unload Device Drivers: Determines which users can load and unload device drivers.
- Double-click "Load and unload device drivers."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Manage Auditing and Security Log: Determines which users can manage the auditing and security log.
- Double-click "Manage auditing and security log."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Restore Files and Directories: Determines which users can bypass file and directory permissions when restoring backed up files.
- Double-click "Restore files and directories."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Shut Down the System: Determines which users can shut down the system.
- Double-click "Shut down the system."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Take Ownership of Files or Other Objects: Determines which users can take ownership of files or other objects.
- Double-click "Take ownership of files or other objects."
- Add or remove users or groups as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Security Options

Security options provide various security-related settings that can be configured.

Navigate to Security Options: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to "Local Policies" > "Security Options."
Accounts: Administrator Account Status: Enables or disables the built-in Administrator account.
- Double-click "Accounts: Administrator account status."
- Set to "Enabled" or "Disabled" as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Accounts: Guest Account Status: Enables or disables the built-in Guest account.
- Double-click "Accounts: Guest account status."
- Set to "Enabled" or "Disabled" as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Interactive Logon: Do Not Display Last User Name: Determines whether the last user name is displayed on the logon screen.
- Double-click "Interactive logon: Do not display last user name."
- Set to "Enabled" to hide the last user name.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Interactive Logon: Message Text for Users Attempting to Log On: Sets a message to be displayed to users attempting to log on.
- Double-click "Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on."
- Enter the message text.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Interactive Logon: Message Title for Users Attempting to Log On: Sets a title for the message displayed to users attempting to log on.
- Double-click "Interactive logon: Message title for users attempting to log on."
- Enter the message title.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."
Shutdown: Allow System to Be Shut Down Without Having to Log On: Determines whether the system can be shut down without logging on.
- Double-click "Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without having to log on."
- Set to "Enabled" or "Disabled" as needed.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Advanced Audit Policy Configuration

The Advanced Audit Policy Configuration allows for more fine-grained control over auditing events.

Navigate to Advanced Audit Policy Configuration: In the Local Security Policy editor, navigate to "Advanced Audit Policy Configuration."
Audit Policies: Expand the "Audit Policies" section to see various categories.
Configure Audit Subcategories: Select a subcategory to configure specific audit settings.
- For example, under "Account Logon," select "Audit Kerberos Authentication Service."
- Check "Success" and/or "Failure" based on your needs.
- Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Using the Command Line

You can also configure some security settings using the command line with the secedit command.

Exporting and Importing Security Policy

Export Security Policy:
```
secedit /export /cfg export.inf
```
This command exports the current security policy to a file named export.inf.
Import Security Policy:
```
secedit /configure /db import.sdb /cfg import.inf /areas SECURITYPOLICY
```
This command imports a security policy from a file named import.inf into a database named import.sdb.

Refreshing Security Policy

Refresh Security Policy:
```
gpupdate /force
```
This command forces a refresh of the Group Policy settings, including the security policy.

Best Practices

Regular Review: Regularly review and update security policies to adapt to changing threats.
Least Privilege: Apply the principle of least privilege by assigning users only the rights and permissions they need to perform their tasks.
Documentation: Document all changes made to the security policy.
Testing: Test changes in a non-production environment before implementing them in production.
Monitoring: Monitor security logs for suspicious activity.
Backup: Regularly back up security policies to a secure location.
Compliance: Ensure that security policies comply with relevant regulations and standards.

Troubleshooting

Policy Conflicts: Be aware of potential conflicts between local security policies and domain-level Group Policies. Domain policies typically take precedence over local policies.
Performance Issues: Excessive auditing can impact system performance. Monitor performance and adjust audit settings as needed.
User Access Issues: Incorrect user rights assignments can prevent users from performing necessary tasks. Review user rights assignments and make adjustments as needed.
Event Log Errors: Check the event logs for errors related to security policies.

Conclusion

Configuring Windows Local Security Policy is a critical aspect of securing individual Windows computers. By understanding the various policy settings and implementing best practices, you can significantly enhance the security posture of your systems. Remember to regularly review and update your security policies to stay ahead of emerging threats. Use secpol.msc to fine-tune these settings, ensuring compliance and optimal security for your environment. With careful planning and consistent monitoring, you can effectively protect your systems from unauthorized access and potential security breaches.