Windows Server 2022 STIG Compliance Checklist

24 items · Security · Medium difficulty · 4 hours

Prepare, scan, and remediate Windows Server 2022 to meet DISA STIG requirements.

• Download SCAP 1.3 content

  Get Microsoft Windows Server 2022 STIG SCAP Benchmark (Ver 2, Rel 7).

• Download XCCDF Ansible package

  Standalone XCCDF for Windows Server 2022 with Ansible.

• Download XCCDF Chef package

  Standalone XCCDF for Windows Server 2022 with Chef.

• Download standalone XCCDF benchmark

  Get the general standalone XCCDF Windows Server 2022 benchmark.

• Download GPOs (Group Policy Objects)

  Obtain the latest GPO pack (e.g., January 2026 or current release).

• Download automated SCC/SCC content

  Grab SCC 5.14 Windows automated content and related tools.

• Verify resource integrity via SHA

  Check SHA values for all downloaded files before use.

• Map STIG requirements to server roles

  Identify DC vs MS applicability and target systems.

• Backup system and configuration

  Take full backups and export current GPOs before changes.

• Test STIG settings in lab environment

  Validate impact on applications and services first.

• Deploy GPO baseline to target OUs

  Apply tested GPOs to appropriate OUs for domain/member servers.

• Run automated SCAP/XCCDF compliance scan

  Use SCAP/XCCDF tools to generate compliance findings.

• Review scan findings and prioritize remediation

  Triage results by severity and business impact.

• Remediate critical and high findings

  Apply fixes, configuration changes, and patches promptly.

• Document exceptions and obtain approvals

  Record risk acceptances and justification for deviations.

• Configure auditing and logging per STIG

  Enable recommended audit policies and forward logs to SIEM.

• Enforce Windows Update and patch baselines

  Ensure automatic updates or centralized patch management.

• Harden services and disable unnecessary features

  Remove or disable roles and services not required by the server.

• Deploy group policy to member servers and DCs

  Push final GPO changes to production targets after testing.

• Verify compliance after remediation

  Re-scan to confirm issues are resolved.

• Schedule regular compliance scans and updates

  Automate periodic scans and STIG refresh checks.

• Subscribe to DISA updates and track change history

  Monitor DISA release notes, updated resources, and SHAs.

• Contact DISA for comments or propose revisions

  Send STIG change requests to [email protected].

• Maintain a change log with timestamps and SHA values

  Record resource versions, SHAs, and update dates for audits.

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