Mastering Windows Security and Hardening - Second Edition

Chapter 2: Building a Baseline

In this chapter, we are going to cover the importance of building a baseline for your Windows systems. As you deploy tens to hundreds to thousands of Windows devices, you need to ensure you are deploying your devices pre-hardened and secured. In addition to this, you need to ensure consistency with every system that is deployed. This is where building a foundation is critical, and that must be followed. In addition to the baseline requirements, very stringent policies, standards, and procedures must be followed. Anyone falling outside of these boundaries will create additional risk for the organization, so it is critical a well-defined program is put in place early with the backing and support of leadership.