Network security is a critical aspect of any IT infrastructure, and Windows operating systems offer several built-in tools and features to help secure your network. In this article, we will explore how to enhance network security on Windows systems using various methods and tools.

Examples:

1. Using Windows Firewall:

   Windows Firewall is a built-in feature that helps protect your computer by blocking unauthorized access. You can configure it using the Control Panel or via Command Prompt.

   • To enable Windows Firewall via Command Prompt, execute the following command:

     netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state on

   • To block a specific application, use:

     netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="BlockApp" dir=out program="C:\Path\To\App.exe" action=block

2. Implementing Network Access Protection (NAP):

   NAP is a feature that helps ensure that the computers connecting to your network meet your security requirements.

   • Configure NAP through the Network Policy Server (NPS) role in Windows Server. This involves setting up health policies and network policies.

3. Using PowerShell for Network Security:

   PowerShell provides cmdlets for advanced network configuration and security.

   • To view current network connections, use:

     Get-NetTCPConnection

   • To disable a network adapter, execute:

     Disable-NetAdapter -Name "Ethernet"

4. Regular Security Updates:

   Keeping your system up-to-date with the latest security patches is crucial.

   • Use Windows Update to automatically download and install updates or manually check for updates via:

     wuauclt /detectnow

5. Configuring IP Security (IPsec):

   IPsec can be used to secure network traffic by encrypting and authenticating IP packets.

   • Configure IPsec policies using the Local Security Policy management console or via PowerShell.

6. Monitoring and Auditing:

   Regularly monitor network activity and audit logs to detect any suspicious behavior.

   • Use Event Viewer to review security logs:

     eventvwr.msc

   • Enable auditing for specific files or folders using:

     auditpol /set /subcategory:"Object Access" /success:enable /failure:enable