This is a description of the hardening guide:

This guide focuses on how to help create and maintain a secure environment for desktop and laptop computers that run Windows Vista. The guide explains the different stages of how to secure two different environments, and what each security setting addresses for the desktop and laptop computers deployed in either one. The guide provides prescriptive information and security recommendations.

Here are the chapters:

Chapter 1: Implementing the Security Baseline
Chapter 2: Defend Against Malware
Chapter 3: Protect Sensitive Data
Chapter 4: Application Compatibility
Chapter 5: Specialized Security – Limited Functionality
Appendix A: Security Group Policy Settings

Don’t install Vista without it!

Jay Ward wrote the very comprehensive Windows 2003 / IIS 6.0 DMZ Hardening Guidelines. The hardening guide is has 27 steps and is more than 100 pages long.

Some of the steps include:

• Boot up Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition (Build 3790) CD-ROM to begin installation and configuration.
• Create a partition for the Operating System.
• Network Settings
• Install the latest Patch Releases
• Installing SSH Server for Remote Management
• Media Configuration and Permissions
• Installing the Anti-Virus Engine
• Disabling Protocols and Setting a Fixed IP for the Server.

This hardening guide would be a great resource for anyone developing their data security standards for Windows servers.

Check it out!