Essential Guide
The complete guide to Windows 10 security tools
IT professionals must carefully consider which security tools they use to protect their Windows 10 desktops. They may want to stray from the Microsoft path in some instances.
Introduction
Windows 10 is the most used OS for desktops in the world, so it's a big target for hackers.
IT professionals should get to know all the Windows 10 security tools they have at their disposal so they can protect users' desktops. Options include native Windows 10 security tools and utilities such as Microsoft Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit. There are also third-party tools to supplement Windows' native firewalls, encryption tools and more.
With so many Windows 10 security tools, IT pros may not know which ones they should choose. For IT pros to determine which aspects of security can rely on Windows 10's native security tools and which cannot, they must learn the ins and outs of each option they have.
1Microsoft Windows Defender-
Use Windows Defender's built-in security tools
First released in 2006 as an add-on to Windows XP, Microsoft expanded Windows Defender over the years to include several useful Windows 10 security tools. Windows Defender covers browser security, endpoint protection, application security and more. IT pros must decide which features to enable and rely on for their security and which Windows Defender features come up short of their needs.
Get to know the three Windows Defender tool groups
The three native Windows 10 utilities included in Windows Defender -- Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), Exploit Guard and Application Guard -- allow IT to protect the organization's network, track endpoints and more. Continue Reading
What's new with Windows Defender in Windows 10?
IT pros can use the behavioral analysis from Windows Defender ATP and the Microsoft Edge browser's Application Guard integrations to protect users. Continue Reading
Troubleshoot Windows Defender update issues
If IT encounters issues with an update to Windows Defender, it can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to see if the update itself is at fault, for example. Continue Reading
Track the evolution of Windows Defender ATP
Since Microsoft first released Windows Defender ATP, the company has added behavioral analysis, machine learning and more to the tool. Continue Reading
Keep up with Windows Defender definitions
Windows Defender is only effective as long as IT keeps its definitions -- files that directly target new variants of malware -- up to date. Microsoft Windows Update service and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) can help IT accomplish this. Continue Reading
2Patching tools-
Shore up Windows 10 desktops with patch management
Late or absent desktop or application patches can create significant vulnerabilities. As a result, IT must find a way to deploy patches quickly, without causing compatibility issues with the desktop or other applications. The balance of testing patches for compatibility while still deploying them quickly is difficult for IT pros to strike -- especially for organizations with many third-party applications. Microsoft's native patching utilities, WSUS and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), don't handle third-party application patches well. As a result, IT can turn to third-party tools to lighten the workload and fill in the gaps that Windows 10's native patch management cannot.
WSUS a strong option for Windows patches
IT professionals can take advantage of WSUS' patch scheduling and automatic download utilities to deploy Windows patches, but they shouldn't expect it to do much for third-party application patching. Continue Reading
Take control of all updates and patches
IT shouldn't leave any application-patching functions to their users, because they likely won't understand the intricacies of the process. IT pros should use WSUS, SCCM and a third-party patching tool to remove the uncertainty from the patching process with automation. Continue Reading
Patch automation shrinks the margin for error
To ensure its entire deployment receives patches for third-party applications as soon as possible, IT should use a patch management tool that includes some automation. Continue Reading
Consider patch management software for third-party apps
Selecting a patch management tool isn't a simple decision. Learn about the current options on the market, such as ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus and GFI LanGuard, before selecting a tool. Continue Reading
3Data encryption and firewalls-
Get to know the options for firewall and encryption
Data encryption and firewalls are crucial for strong security. Firewalls are software that enforces a set of rules on data transactions within the network and between one network and another. Firewalls serve as the front line for all inputs and outputs for an organization's network. Data encryption tools, which encode any data moving from one device to another, ensure that even if a hacker bypasses the firewall and accesses an organization's data transfers, he can't read the data without the decryption key.
Microsoft adds full-disk encryption to BitLocker
BitLocker, Windows 10's native data encryption tool, allows IT to secure users' local data in addition to their data transfers. Best of all, IT pros can manage and deploy BitLocker settings through PowerShell. Continue Reading
Look into the most popular third-party encryption tools
IT professionals ranked centralized policy management, application and database transparency, and low latency as the three most important factors for an encryption tool. There is no perfect encryption tool that works for all deployments, so IT pros must prioritize. Continue Reading
Before diving into data encryption, learn the basics
Before selecting a data encryption tool, IT professionals should learn how these utilities work, how to use them effectively and how they would fit into their Windows 10 deployment. Continue Reading
Understand Windows 10 firewall options
Windows Firewall, the native firewall included in Windows 10, is popular because IT can enable and manage it through Group Policy. But for more robust firewalls, IT pros should consider third-party options. Continue Reading
4Windows 10 security quiz-
Do you understand the Windows 10 security tool market?
Windows Defender is not the only native Windows 10 security tool. Test your knowledge of Windows Defender and other native security options IT can use to lock down its organization's endpoints.
Take This Quiz5Security tools glossary-
Understand the vocabulary for Windows 10 security tools
Get to know the crucial vocabulary around Windows 10 security tools.
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