With each new release of Windows Server, new security risks are introduced. Updates expand functionality, but they can also introduce new attack paths through misconfigurations, expanded privileges, or newly enabled services. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks provide a security baseline that defines prescriptive configuration settings for hardening Windows Server systems.
Several entities, including CIS, publish hardening scripts based on these benchmarks to help IT administrators and security teams enforce baseline settings consistently across environments. These scripts apply standardized security configurations, reduce the attack surface, and support compliance requirements.
These scripts are commonly written in PowerShell, Bash, or other scripting languages and are used to automate the application of CIS baseline configurations at scale.
What you will learn:
- What are the benefits of using a script?
- Why are there so many different CIS script options?
- Prerequisites for Running CIS Hardening Script
- Hardening Script Maintenance
- Scripts vs Automated Configuration tools
What are the benefits of using a script?
By automating the hardening process, baseline scripts save time, minimize errors, and strengthen overall system security.
- Standardized Security – Implements industry-recognized best practices, reducing vulnerabilities and ensuring consistency across systems.
- Time-Saving Automation – Eliminates manual configuration, speeding up deployment and reducing human error.
- Compliance Readiness – Helps meet security requirements for HIPAA, NIST, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, and other regulations.
- Improved System Hardening – Disables unnecessary services, enforces secure policies, and strengthens access controls.
- Audit & Monitoring Support – Many scripts enable logging and auditing, making it easier to track security changes.
- Risk Reduction – Minimizes exposure to cyber threats by applying tested and validated security settings.
Read more about NIST configuration management controls and how they support secure system baselines.
Why are there so many different CIS script options?
Not all scripts are built equal. Each script offers different configurations, which may or may not be suitable for all users. Finding the correct script for you depends on a few factors, including the size of the environment, budget, and the need for expertise and support.
Script creators can largely be placed into one of three categories – software providers and independent developers and communities.
The CIS Build Kit, available through the CIS SecureSuite Membership, offers trusted remediation content for securely applying CIS Benchmarks. While not free, it’s widely used by organizations seeking structured and validated system hardening support. There is also the Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit Server 2022 from Microsoft.
Cyber security vendors, such as CalCom offer their own hardening scripts to help automate configuration remediation, usually as part of a security solution such as a server hardening tool like CalCom Hardening Suite (CHS). These solutions are usually tailored to each individual company’s specific needs, and they encompass the whole hardening process from finding security gaps, through testing enforcement and monitoring.
There are also open source scripts, created by IT professionals, system admins and security enthusiasts, which are usually shared on platforms like Github and Reddit. Scripts like this one from Hardening Kitty and this Windows server 2022 script are community driven can be useful, but are not officially tested or endorsed, and could potentially contain errors or have unintended risks.
It is important, no matter the script, to first test in a non production environment before applying to a live system. Some scripts may cause deployment issues or interfere with system functionality, therefore it is always recommended to review a script before implementation and make any changes necessary to run in your environment.
Disclaimer: CalCom does not create, maintain, or endorse the scripts linked above. They are provided for informational purposes only. Use at your own risk, and always test in a non-production environment before applying to a live system.
Prerequisites for Running CIS Hardening Script
To ensure hardening scripts do not interrupt functionality or have unintended consequences, it is important to properly prepare.
- Review the script and understand what settings the script modifies and how to achieve server hardening.
- Backing up your current server configuration or system state is critical before running any hardening script.
- Test the script in a non-production environment that mirrors your target system. This identifies any potential conflicts or unintended consequences before applying it to your critical servers.
- Check execution policies and permissions to ensure scripts can run with admin privileges.
- Account for exceptions by identifying any settings that may disrupt critical applications and adjust accordingly.
- Monitor and validate changes once executed, check system logs to ensure services remain functional as intended.
Hardening Script Maintenance
To keep Windows Server secure after using a hardening script, requires continuous maintenance. It is important to perform frequent updates to the operating system and installed applications and set up regular, automated backups for critical data and configurations.
Without maintenance, a system can become vulnerable to attacks, data breaches and data loss which can quickly spiral into downtime, non compliance with regulations and operational disruptions.
Hardening scripts can secure systems initially, but configurations often change over time. Learn how configuration drift creates new security risks and how to mitigate them.
Scripts vs Automated Configuration Tools
Both hardening scripts and hardening configuration tools have their place in securing systems. Scripts offer flexibility and control, suitable for specific or custom environments. Configuration tools provide ease of use, ongoing management, and broader application, making them suitable for larger or more dynamic environments. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs, scale, and expertise of the administrators managing the systems.
| Feature | Script | Automation Tool |
| User Interaction | Manuel Execution | Interactive Interface |
| Configuration | Static, requires script editing | Dynamic, based on templates or profiles |
| Management | Single-use, no continuous management | Continuous monitoring and managing |
| Flexibility | Highly flexible | Granular control and highly flexible |
| Ease of Use | Requires scripting knowledge | User-friendly, designed for ease of use |
| Examples | Powershell scripts | CalCom Software, Ansible, Chef, Puppet |
| Testing | Manual, time-consuming | Automated by intelligent learning capability (in CHS only) |
| Remediation | Manual | Automated |
| Monitoring | Note | Continous, automated |
The sheer volume of security recommendations can be overwhelming. Manually applying each recommendation is not only time-consuming but also increases the risk of mistakes and missed configurations. Keeping track of numerous security settings and ensuring they are consistently implemented across all systems can be challenging.
Automated hardening addresses these issues by streamlining the process, ensuring all recommendations are applied correctly and consistently, and significantly reducing the workload on IT staff, making it ideal for enterprises with extensive IT infrastructures.
