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18.9.5.6 (NG) Ensure 'Turn On Virtualization Based Security: Credential Guard Configuration' is set to 'Disabled' (DC Only)

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Information

This setting lets users turn on Credential Guard with virtualization-based security to help protect credentials.

The recommended state for this setting is: Disabled on Domain Controllers.

 Note: Virtualization Based Security requires a 64-bit version of Windows with Secure Boot enabled, which in turn requires that Windows was installed with a UEFI BIOS configuration, not a Legacy BIOS configuration. In addition, if running Windows on a virtual machine, the hardware-assisted CPU virtualization feature (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) must be exposed by the host to the guest VM.

More information on system requirements for this feature can be found at Windows Defender Credential Guard Requirements (Windows 10) | Microsoft Docs https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard-requirements

 Note #2: Credential Guard and Device Guard are not currently supported when using Azure IaaS VMs.

Credential Guard is not useful on Domain Controllers and can cause crashes on them.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to Disabled :

 Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Device Guard\Turn On Virtualization Based Security: Credential Guard Configuration

 Note: This Group Policy path may not exist by default. It is provided by the Group Policy template DeviceGuard.admx/adml that is included with the Microsoft Windows 10 Release 1511 Administrative Templates (or newer).

Impact:

None - this is the default behavior.

 Warning: Enabling Windows Defender Credential Guard on Domain Controllers is not supported.The domain controller hosts authentication services which integrate with processes isolated when Windows Defender Credential Guard is enabled, causing crashes.

Manage Windows Defender Credential Guard (Windows 10) | Microsoft Docs https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard-manage#disable-windows-defender-credential-guard

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/22481

Item Details

References: CSCv7|8.3

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 4f8e85b9d7c66467b69b5afdb31e62d85fbced137b538302f9e8def5bd7c9449