Windows Server environments host critical authentication, directory services, and database workloads. Riptide Cybersecurity’s CIS Windows Server Auditing verifies that every server adheres to globally recognized Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks while implementing resilient identity architecture.
What We Audit & Hardening Architecture
Our audits evaluate systems against both CIS Level 1 (Baseline / Operational) and CIS Level 2 (High Security / Sensitive Data) profiles:
- Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, and 2016 (Domain Controllers, Member Servers, and Core Infrastructure).
- Tiered Administration Model Architecture: Implementing Tier 0 (Domain Controllers/PKI), Tier 1 (Servers/Apps), and Tier 2 (Workstations) identity isolation to isolate “Crown Jewel” assets and prevent credential theft traversal.
- Active Directory Hardening: Remediation of BloodHound attack paths, unconstrained delegation removal, Kerberos policy optimization, and sensitive account flags.
- Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS): Enforcing randomized, rotating local administrator passwords across every server to eliminate lateral movement.
- Group Policy Objects (GPOs): Streamlining and enforcing baseline GPOs, removing conflicting configurations, and securing user right assignments.
- Credential Protection & Protocol Retirement: Enforcing LSA protection, Credential Guard, disabling NTLMv1/WDigest, SMBv1/v2 signing, and retiring LLMNR/NetBIOS.
Audit Deliverables & Remediation Roadmap
- CIS Benchmark Compliance Scorecard: Clear pass/fail metrics mapped against each CIS control.
- Actionable Hardening Roadmap: Specific configuration recommendations and baseline guidance for Group Policy, identity isolation, and LAPS deployment.
- Operational Impact & Architecture Review: Collaborative brainstorming and validation to ensure proposed security controls fit your business operations without breaking legacy software dependencies.
