Windows offers a wide array of security-related features and configuration options, but many are either disabled by default or not configured correctly. While Microsoft’s Security Baselines provide valuable guidance, the free Harden Windows Security tool offers a significantly faster and more comprehensive way to implement robust security settings.

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Entering a PIN is one of the authentication methods available through Microsoft’s Windows Hello. It offers a simplified sign-in experience, especially for devices that lack biometric capabilities. This option must be explicitly enabled in domain-joined environments or those using Entra ID. However, its functionality is significantly restricted on virtual machines hosted on Hyper-V.

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Instead of walking through the entire wizard in Hyper-V Manager to create a virtual machine, you can speed up the process using Quick Create. By default, this tool uses virtual hard disks (VHDX) provided by Microsoft. Alternatively, you can set up a custom gallery and populate it with your own images.

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Microsoft recently updated the administrative templates for the Office suite, introducing a significant number of new settings. Most of these are designed to control the interaction with the built-in AI features. In addition, the update includes several security-related policies for individual applications.

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Windows 11 and Windows Server include additional components and utilities that are not installed by default. Depending on the operating system and the source used for installing these features, Microsoft provides various GUI tools and PowerShell cmdlets. Unfortunately, the overall concept lacks consistency and often leads to confusion.

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For security purposes, it may be beneficial to restrict Active Directory account logins to regular working hours. These logon times can be configured using the calendar widget in Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC). However, PowerShell provides a more efficient and flexible alternative, particularly because it offers reporting capabilities that the graphical interface does not.

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Since Group Policy changes remain a cornerstone of centralized Windows system management, admins should know which settings have been introduced or changed before an OS upgrade. Windows 11 adds not only policies for its latest features but also extends configuration options for many existing components.

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DNSSEC is a security standard that protects the Domain Name System by ensuring only authorized servers can respond to DNS queries. Microsoft's DNS server has supported DNSSEC zone signing for some time. However, to take full advantage of DNSSEC, client systems must also be configured, typically via Group Policy, to request authentic responses.

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Domain controllers rely on DFS Replication (DFS-R) to synchronize the contents of SYSVOL and Netlogon across the network. This process ensures that group policy objects (GPOs) and logon scripts remain consistent across all DCs. While troubleshooting DFS-R issues can be complex, several built-in tools can help diagnose and resolve problems efficiently.

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PHP is still available on Windows despite Microsoft no longer providing support for version 8.x. It can be integrated as a script engine into Internet Information Services (IIS), either through the graphical IIS Manager or via PowerShell, which is especially useful for Server Core installations.

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In environments with multiple VMs running the same Windows version, powering down the Hyper-V VMs during a maintenance window is usually the most efficient way to update them offline. This involves mounting the virtual disk and installing updates through PowerShell. This approach also benefits VMs that have been powered off for an extended period. Instead of starting them in an outdated and potentially vulnerable state, you can apply critical security updates in advance.

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Many laptops come with just one M.2 slot, making storage upgrades challenging. Rather than adding an SSD, you have to replace the current one. This operation involves connecting the new SSD externally and booting the system via USB to transfer data. The free open-source tool Clonezilla provides a dedicated feature to simplify this process.

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