Windows 2000 Security Best Practices

Windows 2000 Security Best Practices

Securing a Windows 2000 Server requires a layered approach: patching, hardening, auditing, and monitoring. This guide covers the essential steps.

1. Keep the System Patched

• Install Service Pack 4 and Update Rollup 1
• Use SUS (Software Update Services) or WSUS to deploy patches to multiple servers
• Subscribe to the Microsoft Security Bulletin mailing list

2. Harden the File System

• Use NTFS on all partitions: FAT/FAT32 have no file-level security
• Remove the Everyone group from the root of system drives
• Restrict access to %SystemRoot%\System32\Config (SAM, SECURITY, SYSTEM hives)
• Enable EFS (Encrypting File System) for sensitive data directories

3. Account Security

• Rename the built-in Administrator account to something non-obvious
• Set a complex password (12+ characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols)
• Enable account lockout: 5 invalid attempts, 30-minute lockout duration
• Disable the Guest account (disabled by default on Server editions)

4. Network Hardening

• Disable unused services: Telnet, IIS (if not needed), FTP
• Use IPSec policies to encrypt traffic between domain controllers
• Filter ports with TCP/IP filtering or a hardware firewall
• Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP if not required (port 137-139)

5. Auditing

Enable auditing via Local Security Policy or Group Policy:

REM Recommended audit policy settings
Audit account logon events       Success, Failure
Audit account management         Success, Failure
Audit logon events               Success, Failure
Audit object access              Failure
Audit policy change              Success, Failure
Audit privilege use              Failure
Audit system events              Success, Failure

6. Service Hardening

Review all running services (services.msc). Set unnecessary services to Disabled. Key services to review: