From 02b4e0ea2fd336332abe2e6c90fcb3ddc84231fa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: v-miegge <49650192+v-miegge@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2020 11:03:25 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] CI 123773 - Updated text and markdown coding
---
.../credential-guard-requirements.md | 82 +++++++++++--------
1 file changed, 50 insertions(+), 32 deletions(-)
diff --git a/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard-requirements.md b/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard-requirements.md
index cdf9c3ec9a..3c4371019f 100644
--- a/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard-requirements.md
+++ b/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard-requirements.md
@@ -12,29 +12,30 @@ ms.author: dansimp
manager: dansimp
ms.collection: M365-identity-device-management
ms.topic: article
-ms.date: 01/12/2018
+ms.date: 09/30/2020
ms.reviewer:
---
# Windows Defender Credential Guard: Requirements
-**Applies to**
-- Windows 10
-- Windows Server 2016
+## Applies to
+- Windows 10
+- Windows Server 2016
For Windows Defender Credential Guard to provide protection, the computers you are protecting must meet certain baseline hardware, firmware, and software requirements which we will refer to as [Hardware and software requirements](#hardware-and-software-requirements). Additionally, Windows Defender Credential Guard blocks specific authentication capabilities, so applications that require such capabilities will break. We will refer to this as [Application requirements](#application-requirements). Beyond that, computers can meet additional hardware and firmware qualifications, and receive additional protections. Those computers will be more hardened against certain threats. For detailed information on baseline protections, plus protections for improved security that are associated with hardware and firmware options available in 2015, 2016, and 2017, refer to the tables in [Security Considerations](#security-considerations).
-
## Hardware and software requirements
To provide basic protections against OS level attempts to read Credential Manager domain credentials, NTLM and Kerberos derived credentials, Windows Defender Credential Guard uses:
+
- Support for Virtualization-based security (required)
- Secure boot (required)
-- TPM (preferred - provides binding to hardware) versions 1.2 and 2.0 are supported, either discrete or firmware
+- TPM (preferred - provides binding to hardware) versions 1.2 and 2.0 are supported, either discrete or firmware
- UEFI lock (preferred - prevents attacker from disabling with a simple registry key change)
The Virtualization-based security requires:
+
- 64-bit CPU
- CPU virtualization extensions plus extended page tables
- Windows hypervisor (does not require Hyper-V Windows Feature to be installed)
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ Credential Guard can protect secrets in a Hyper-V virtual machine, just as it wo
- The Hyper-V host must have an IOMMU, and run at least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10 version 1607.
- The Hyper-V virtual machine must be Generation 2, have an enabled virtual TPM, and be running at least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10.
+ - Please note that TPM is not a requirement, but we highly recommend to implement TPM.
For information about other host platforms, see [Enabling Windows Server 2016 and Hyper-V virtualization based security features on other platforms](https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2016/09/29/enabling-windows-server-2016-and-hyper-v-virtualization-based-security-features-on-other-platforms/).
@@ -57,19 +59,21 @@ For information about Windows Defender Remote Credential Guard hardware and soft
When Windows Defender Credential Guard is enabled, specific authentication capabilities are blocked, so applications that require such capabilities will break. Applications should be tested prior to deployment to ensure compatibility with the reduced functionality.
>[!WARNING]
-> Enabling Windows Defender Credential Guard on domain controllers is not supported.
+> 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.
>[!NOTE]
> Windows Defender Credential Guard does not provide protections for the Active Directory database or the Security Accounts Manager (SAM). The credentials protected by Kerberos and NTLM when Windows Defender Credential Guard is enabled are also in the Active Directory database (on domain controllers) and the SAM (for local accounts).
Applications will break if they require:
+
- Kerberos DES encryption support
- Kerberos unconstrained delegation
- Extracting the Kerberos TGT
- NTLMv1
Applications will prompt and expose credentials to risk if they require:
+
- Digest authentication
- Credential delegation
- MS-CHAPv2
@@ -86,52 +90,66 @@ The following tables describe baseline protections, plus protections for improve
> [!NOTE]
> Beginning with Windows 10, version 1607, Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) must be enabled by default on new shipping computers.
->
+>
> If you are an OEM, see [PC OEM requirements for Windows Defender Credential Guard](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/mt767514.aspx).
### Baseline protections
-|Baseline Protections | Description | Security benefits
+|Baseline Protections|Description|Security benefits
|---|---|---|
-| Hardware: **64-bit CPU** | A 64-bit computer is required for the Windows hypervisor to provide VBS. |
-| Hardware: **CPU virtualization extensions**,
plus **extended page tables** | **Requirements**: These hardware features are required for VBS:
One of the following virtualization extensions:
• VT-x (Intel) or
• AMD-V
And:
• Extended page tables, also called Second Level Address Translation (SLAT). | VBS provides isolation of secure kernel from normal operating system. Vulnerabilities and Day 0s in normal operating system cannot be exploited because of this isolation. |
-| Hardware: **Trusted Platform Module (TPM)** | **Requirement**: TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0, either discrete or firmware.
[TPM recommendations](https://technet.microsoft.com/itpro/windows/keep-secure/tpm-recommendations) | A TPM provides protection for VBS encryption keys that are stored in the firmware. This helps protect against attacks involving a physically present user with BIOS access. |
-| Firmware: **UEFI firmware version 2.3.1.c or higher with UEFI Secure Boot** | **Requirements**: See the following Windows Hardware Compatibility Program requirement: [System.Fundamentals.Firmware.UEFISecureBoot](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/dn932805.aspx#system-fundamentals-firmware-uefisecureboot)| UEFI Secure Boot helps ensure that the device boots only authorized code. This can prevent boot kits and root kits from installing and persisting across reboots. |
-| Firmware: **Secure firmware update process** | **Requirements**: UEFI firmware must support secure firmware update found under the following Windows Hardware Compatibility Program requirement: [System.Fundamentals.Firmware.UEFISecureBoot](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/dn932805.aspx#system-fundamentals-firmware-uefisecureboot).| UEFI firmware just like software can have security vulnerabilities that, when found, need to be patched through firmware updates. Patching helps prevent root kits from getting installed. |
-| Software: Qualified **Windows operating system** | **Requirement**: Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016.
|Support for VBS and for management features that simplify configuration of Windows Defender Credential Guard. | +|Hardware: **64-bit CPU** |A 64-bit computer is required for the Windows hypervisor to provide VBS.| +|Hardware: **CPU virtualization extensions**, plus **extended page tables**|**Requirements**: - These hardware features are required for VBS: One of the following virtualization extensions: - VT-x (Intel) or - AMD-V And: - Extended page tables, also called Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).|VBS provides isolation of secure kernel from normal operating system. Vulnerabilities and Day 0s in normal operating system cannot be exploited because of this isolation.| +|Hardware: **Trusted Platform Module (TPM)**|**Requirement**: - TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0, either discrete or firmware. [TPM recommendations](https://technet.microsoft.com/itpro/windows/keep-secure/tpm-recommendations)|A TPM provides protection for VBS encryption keys that are stored in the firmware. This helps protect against attacks involving a physically present user with BIOS access.| +|Firmware: **UEFI firmware version 2.3.1.c or higher with UEFI Secure Boot**|**Requirements**: - See the following Windows Hardware Compatibility Program requirement: [System.Fundamentals.Firmware.UEFISecureBoot](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/dn932805.aspx#system-fundamentals-firmware-uefisecureboot)|UEFI Secure Boot helps ensure that the device boots only authorized code. This can prevent boot kits and root kits from installing and persisting across reboots.| +|Firmware: **Secure firmware update process**|**Requirements**: - UEFI firmware must support secure firmware update found under the following Windows Hardware Compatibility Program requirement: [System.Fundamentals.Firmware.UEFISecureBoot](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/hardware/dn932805.aspx#system-fundamentals-firmware-uefisecureboot).|UEFI firmware just like software can have security vulnerabilities that, when found, need to be patched through firmware updates. Patching helps prevent root kits from getting installed.| +|Software: Qualified **Windows operating system**|**Requirement**: - Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016.|Support for VBS and for management features that simplify configuration of Windows Defender Credential Guard.| + +> [!IMPORTANT] +> Windows Server 2016 running as a domain controller does not support Windows Defender Credential Guard. > [!IMPORTANT] > The following tables list additional qualifications for improved security. We strongly recommend meeting the additional qualifications to significantly strengthen the level of security that Windows Defender Credential Guard can provide. - ### 2015 Additional security qualifications starting with Windows 10, version 1507, and Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4 -| Protections for Improved Security | Description | -|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| -| Hardware: **IOMMU** (input/output memory management unit) | **Requirement**: VT-D or AMD Vi IOMMU **Security benefits**: An IOMMU can enhance system resiliency against memory attacks. For more information, see [ACPI description tables](https://msdn.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/drivers/bringup/acpi-system-description-tables). | -| Firmware: **Securing Boot Configuration and Management** | **Requirements**:Important:
Windows Server 2016 running as a domain controller does not support Windows Defender Credential Guard.
Notes:
• This only applies to UEFI runtime service memory, and not UEFI boot service memory.
• This protection is applied by VBS on OS page tables.