Help CenterIn the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, maintaining a robust security posture is essential for protecting organizational assets and data. Microsoft offers powerful tools to help organizations achieve this, including Windows Security Baseline and Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline. These baselines, when deployed effectively, provide comprehensive protection for Windows devices. Here’s a look at the benefits of these security baselines and a guide on how to deploy them via Microsoft Intune.
Benefits of Windows Security Baseline
1. Standardized Security Configuration
The Windows Security Baseline provides a set of pre-configured security settings that align with industry best practices and Microsoft's recommendations. This standardization helps ensure that all Windows devices within an organization are configured to meet a consistent security standard, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
2. Enhanced Threat Protection
By applying the Windows Security Baseline, organizations can benefit from advanced security features such as controlled folder access, exploit protection, and Windows Defender Antivirus settings. These features help protect devices against a range of threats, including malware, ransomware, and other types of attacks.
3. Simplified Compliance
The security baseline is designed to help organizations meet various compliance requirements, including those related to data protection and cybersecurity regulations. Implementing these settings can simplify the process of demonstrating compliance during audits and assessments.
4. Reduced Attack Surface
The baseline includes settings that minimize the attack surface of Windows devices by disabling unnecessary features and services. This reduction in the attack surface lowers the likelihood of exploitation by attackers, enhancing the overall security of the device.
5. Improved Security Posture
Regularly updated and reviewed, the Windows Security Baseline incorporates the latest security best practices and recommendations from Microsoft. This ensures that organizations benefit from the most current protections and strategies to defend against emerging threats.
Benefits of Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline
1. Comprehensive Threat Detection and Response
Defender for Endpoint provides advanced threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities. The security baseline for Defender for Endpoint includes settings that enable these capabilities, allowing organizations to detect and respond to sophisticated threats effectively.
2. Integration with Microsoft 365 Security Solutions
The Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 security solutions, such as Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender for Office 365. This integration provides a unified security approach and allows for comprehensive monitoring and response across the organization’s entire digital ecosystem.
3. Automated Incident Response
The security baseline includes settings that enable automated incident response actions, such as isolating compromised devices or blocking malicious activities. This automation helps reduce the time required to respond to threats and mitigate potential damage.
4. Enhanced Visibility and Reporting
Defender for Endpoint offers detailed visibility into device security, including activity logs, alerts, and security reports. The security baseline settings help ensure that these features are properly configured, providing valuable insights into the organization’s security posture.
5. Continuous Improvement
Microsoft regularly updates Defender for Endpoint’s security baseline to address new threats and incorporate emerging best practices. This ongoing improvement ensures that organizations remain protected against evolving cybersecurity risks.
How to Deploy Windows Security Baseline and Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline via Intune
1. Access Microsoft Intune
- Sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center (https://endpoint.microsoft.com/) with appropriate administrative credentials.
2. Deploy Windows Security Baseline
- Navigate to Security Baselines: Go to Devices > Configuration profiles > Create profile. Select Windows 10 and later as the platform and Security baseline as the profile type.
- Select Baseline: Choose the relevant Windows Security Baseline profile from the list (e.g., Windows 10 Security Baseline).
- Configure Settings: Review and customize the security settings as needed based on organizational requirements. Each baseline profile includes various security settings that you can enable or adjust.
- Assign Profile: Assign the profile to the appropriate device groups. You can choose specific groups of devices to receive the baseline settings.
- Review and Create: Review the configuration settings and create the profile. The baseline settings will be applied to the assigned devices.
3. Deploy Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline
- Navigate to Endpoint Security: Go to Endpoint security > Policies > Create policy. Choose Windows 10 and later as the platform and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint as the policy type.
- Select Baseline: Choose the Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline profile that aligns with your organization’s security needs.
- Configure Settings: Configure the baseline settings to enable Defender for Endpoint’s threat detection, response, and visibility features. Adjust settings according to your organization’s security requirements.
- Assign Policy: Assign the policy to the appropriate device groups. Ensure that the policy targets devices where Defender for Endpoint protection is required.
- Review and Create: Review the policy settings and create the profile. The Defender for Endpoint security settings will be applied to the assigned devices.
4. Monitor and Manage
- Monitor Deployment: Use the Intune admin center to monitor the deployment status and compliance of the security baselines. Check for any issues or conflicts and address them as needed.
- Update Baselines: Regularly review and update security baselines to ensure they remain aligned with the latest best practices and threat intelligence.
Conclusion
The Windows Security Baseline and Defender for Endpoint Security Baseline are essential components of a comprehensive security strategy for Windows devices. By deploying these baselines via Microsoft Intune, organizations can benefit from standardized security configurations, enhanced threat protection, simplified compliance, and improved visibility. Effective deployment and management of these baselines will help safeguard organizational assets, protect against evolving threats, and ensure a robust security posture across all Windows devices.