Windows Security Internals

INTRODUCTION

Hundreds of millions of devices use the Microsoft Windows platform. Many of the world’s largest companies rely on its security to protect their data and communications, as does anyone hosting their code in the Azure cloud. But because Windows is so important to the security of the modern internet, it’s also a popular target for attack.

The Windows NT operating system began including security in its design in 1993, when it introduced user accounts, control over resources, and remote access from a network. In the more than 20 years since then, much has changed in Windows security. Microsoft has replaced its original authentication ...