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macOS Tahoe Security Checklist

Medium 18 items · 2 hours
testuser's avatar
testuser Published 1 month ago
Security

This checklist distills the NIST macOS Security Compliance (Tahoe 26.0) guidance into practical steps for IT and security teams. It’s for system administrators, security engineers, and auditors who must harden, test, and document macOS Tahoe systems safely.

Source: https://ncp.nist.gov/checklist/1301

Progress
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  1. Review NIST Tahoe guidance documents — Download and read HTML/PDF/SCAP files from the NIST macOS Security repo.
  2. Test recommended settings in a non-production environment — Use lab devices or VMs before applying to live systems to avoid lockouts.
  3. Backup systems and user data before changes — Create full backups or snapshots to enable rollback if needed.
  4. Enroll Macs in a managed MDM solution — Use your enterprise MDM to deploy profiles and enforce baselines.
  5. Harden authentication and user accounts — Apply account and login controls across devices.
  6. Enable FileVault full-disk encryption — Encrypt system volumes to protect data at rest.
  7. Require strong passwords and set expiration policies — Enforce complexity, minimum length, and rotation in policy.
  8. Disable automatic login and guest account access — Prevent bypassing authentication on physical devices.
  9. Enable and configure the macOS firewall — Turn on the firewall and limit incoming connections.
  10. Enable System Integrity Protection and Secure Boot — Ensure SIP and secure boot are active to protect system integrity.
  11. Install macOS updates and security patches — Keep systems current with Apple security releases and patches.
  12. Disable unnecessary services and file sharing — Turn off SSH, AFP, SMB or other services not needed in production.
  13. Deploy configuration profiles via MDM — Push vetted profiles to enforce settings centrally.
  14. Test smartcard and authentication profiles in the lab — Validate smartcard profiles to avoid locking out password logins.
  15. Enable audit logging and central log collection — Forward logs to a SIEM or central collector for monitoring.
  16. Implement endpoint protection (AV/EDR) — Install and configure supported endpoint detection and response tools.
  17. Document configurations, testing results, and change history — Record applied settings, test outcomes, and dates for audits.
  18. Subscribe to the NIST macOS Security GitHub for updates — Watch the repo for new guidance, issues, and revised checklists.
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