Understanding Intune's Default Windows Security Baselines

Why This Matters

In today’s threat landscape, failure to configure security baselines properly can expose organizations to a range of vulnerabilities that attackers are eager to exploit. According to the Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 70% of breaches involved external actors. When security configurations aren’t appropriately applied, sensitive data may be at risk, directly impacting compliance with frameworks like CIS, NIST, and ISO 27001.

Common attack vectors include exploiting misconfigured settings, which open doors to malware, ransomware, or data breaches. Auditors routinely flag such oversights, and large organizations may struggle significantly with scalability if their baseline configurations are inconsistent across devices. Administrators must ensure the security baselines align with best practices, or face potential non-compliance statuses during audits, especially when they do not meet the stringent requirements set forth by regulatory bodies.

The Recommended Configuration

Microsoft Intune provides a comprehensive set of security baselines tailored for Windows devices. Below are key areas to focus on to enhance your security posture:

Account Protection

Recommended Setting: Set Require Windows Hello for Business or other authentication methods. Why: This enhances security through multifactor authentication. Default: Disabled — which leaves accounts more vulnerable to brute-force attacks.

# PowerShell to check current setting  
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_SecuritySetting | Where-Object {$_.Name -eq "PasswordComplexity"}

Device Security

Recommended Setting: Enable BitLocker Drive Encryption. Why: Encrypting data at rest protects against unauthorized access if a device is lost or stolen. Default: Not deployed — exposing data easily during theft.

# PowerShell to check BitLocker status  
Get-BitLockerVolume | Select-Object MountPoint,ProtectionStatus

Remote Access

Recommended Setting: Disable remote file and print sharing. Why: Reduces exposure to network-based attacks. Default: Enabled — can lead to unauthorized access.

# PowerShell command to verify  
Get-NetFirewallRule | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -eq 'File and Printer Sharing (NB-Session-In)'}

Implementation Checklist

1. Access Intune Admin Center - Navigate to Intune > Devices > Configuration profiles. - Verification: Ensure your profiles are visible and correctly assigned. - Expected Behavior: Configuration profiles listed without errors.
2. Review Security Baselines - Go to Intune > Security > Security Baselines and examine existing baselines. - Verification: Ensure compliance audit is scheduled. - Expected Behavior: Baselines aligned with your organizational policies.
3. Implement Baselines - Create or modify baselines as needed. - Use the Add/Remove... feature to configure settings. - Verification: Use the Get-MdmPolicy cmdlet to confirm settings. - Expected Behavior: Security settings applied across devices.
4. Assign the Security Baseline - Assign the baseline to groups that require it via Intune > Groups. - Verification: Check group assignment under the respective baseline. - Expected Behavior: Devices receiving the baseline configurations.
5. Monitor & Report - Set up compliance reports under Intune > Reports > Device compliance. - Verification: Review reports for compliance status regularly. - Expected Behavior: Regular compliance reporting is actionable.

Common Mistakes

Setting X without also setting Y: Often admins will enable BitLocker without enforcing pre-boot authentication, leading to potential bypasses.

Forgetting to exclude service accounts: Service accounts often need different configurations; failing to accommodate this can lead to downtime when enforcing limitations.

Not testing with a pilot group first: Rolling baselines out without testing can lead to device inaccessibility for users. Always verify settings with a small group before full deployment.

Ongoing Monitoring

Maintaining security baselines is an ongoing effort. Here’s how you can ensure they remain correctly configured:

• Graph API Monitoring: Regular checks can be automated, querying the assigned baselines and devices’ configuration states.

GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/deviceManagement/deviceConfigurations

• Scheduled Audit Scripts: Utilize PowerShell scripts to run compliance checks weekly.

# Example Audit Script  
$devices = Get-IntuneManagedDevice
$devices | ForEach-Object {Get-IntuneMobileAppPolicy -DeviceId $_.Id}

• KQL Queries: For comprehensive logging, set KQL queries in Azure Monitor to track changes in baselines or compliance states.

DeviceManagement | where ActionType == "Update"

Regular audits against compliance standards and ongoing assessments of drift will ensure your configurations never stray far from optimal security configurations.

Microsoft Intune Security Baseline Settings Documentation

Overview of Security Baselines in Intune

Using Security Baselines in Intune