As the globe acclimated to working outside the office, cybercriminals and nation-states alike increased their targeting, speed, and precision. These developments have pushed “cybersecurity challenges and dangers” to the top of the list of company decision-makers fears or concerns for the next year.
Microsoft has unveiled New Security Features for Windows 11 that will assist in the protection of hybrid operations. Significant security enhancements will be included in a future edition of Windows 11, adding even more protection from the chip to the cloud by integrating contemporary hardware and software. So, I have added 8 new security features of Windows 11 for your reference below.
Why Is Windows 11 Better than Windows 10?
Windows 11 has finished its staged rollout and is now available for widespread deployment on supported devices. There are several significant differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11, as with every major operating system release.
Windows 11 introduces a brand-new, more Mac-like interface to the operating system. It has a simple style with rounded corners and pastel colors. Android applications for Windows 11 are now accessible through the Microsoft Store and the Amazon Appstore.
Virtual desktops in Windows 11 may be configured similarly to how they are on a Mac. It enables you to switch between numerous PCs for personal, work, education, or gaming purposes. This function was more difficult to set up and utilize in Windows 10.
Windows 11 now adds haptics to your digital pen, allowing you to hear and feel vibrations when taking notes or sketching. Finally, the operating system incorporates voice typing and instructions across the system. All these features make Windows 11 better than Windows 10.
Top Windows 11 Security Features:
Zero Trust Security:
Microsoft bill’s Windows 11 as “zero trust ready” since these security protections are already in place. This should reduce the number of events that cybersecurity specialists must investigate, boosting response time. Windows 11 also has the ability to identify whether or not a device has security protections activated, similar to how a vaccination card is used today.
Before gaining access to data, a device must demonstrate its security, much as you may be required to produce your vaccination card to get entry to a musical venue. When combined with the OS’s native support for Microsoft Azure Attestation (MAA), Windows 11 provides both software and hardware-based zero-trust security.
Smart App Control:
Smart App Control is a significant addition to the Windows 11 security paradigm that stops users from executing dangerous apps on Windows devices that by default ban untrusted or unsigned applications.
Smart App Control goes beyond prior browser safeguards and is integrated directly into the heart of the operating system at the process level. Using code signing and AI, this new Smart App Control only permits processes to execute within the Microsoft cloud that are expected to be secure based on either code certificates or an AI model for application trust.
Model inference occurs around the clock on the most recent threat intelligence, which contains billions of signals.
When a new application is launched on Windows 11, its core signing and core functionality are validated against this model, guaranteeing that only known safe programs are launched. This means that Windows 11 customers can be certain that their new Windows devices are running only secure and dependable programs.
Increased Account Security:
Microsoft Defender’s advanced phishing detection and defense are incorporated into Windows. SmartScreen will assist users to avoid phishing attempts by detecting and warning them when they enter their Microsoft credentials into a malicious program or compromised website.
Windows 11 has hardware-backed, virtualization-based security features to assist defend computers against credential theft attack tactics such as pass-the-hash or pass-the-ticket.
It also aids in preventing malware from obtaining system secrets, even while the process is operating with administrative rights. To validate a user’s identity, Windows employs numerous important procedures. One of such programs is the LSA, which is in charge of authenticating users and confirming Windows logins.
Personal Data Encryption:
According to Verizon’s 2021 Mobile Security Index, mobile devices are the greatest IT security concern. 97% believe remote employees are more vulnerable than office workers, and some are concerned about equipment loss or theft. No matter where people work, the new Personal Data Encryption in Windows 11 provides a foundation for usage by apps and IT.
This was created to safeguard user files and data when the user is not signed into the device. To access the data, the user must first authenticate with Windows Hello for Business, linking data encryption keys with the user’s passwordless credentials. So that even if a device is lost or stolen, data is more resistant to attack and sensitive data has another layer of protection built in.
Config Lock:
The Config Lock feature, which is already included in Windows 11, monitors registry entries via mobile device management (MDM) policies to guarantee that devices in your ecosystem meet industrial and enterprise security baselines.
Config Lock will automatically restore the affected system to the IT-desired state if it detects a change in registry keys. With Config Lock, IT managers can be certain that their organization’s devices are secure and that users have not modified essential security settings.
HVCI Drivers:
HVCI is enabled by default on a greater range of Windows 11 devices. This feature stops attackers from introducing their own malicious code and helps ensure that all drivers installed onto the OS are signed and trustworthy. The Microsoft vulnerable driver blocklist uses Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC).
This is to assist prevent advanced persistent threats (APTs) and ransomware attacks that abuse and exploit known vulnerable drivers. The kernel blocklisting function mitigates these vulnerabilities by preventing these drivers from being abused by blocking their load in the Windows kernel. The blocklist is enabled by default on devices that run HVCI or Windows SE.
Chip to Cloud Security:
Microsoft is always investing in enhancing Windows’ default security baseline and is focused on addressing holes in top attack vectors like the ones we discussed today. These improvements are intended to help Windows customers simplify and enrich their security experience by default.
Windows 11 assists enterprises in meeting the new security concerns of the hybrid workplace, both today and in the future, with built-in chip to cloud protection and layers of security. We are making Windows more secure by default with each version, building additional safeguards as we continue to power the future of business.
Virtualization:
Android application compatibility, which necessitates app virtualization, was one of the things Windows 11 promised. Because developing for mobile devices would be incredibly challenging, developers want a mechanism to execute the program from their PCs.
They may use virtualization to test software features on their PC before releasing them to the public. VBS uses hardware virtualization to protect security features and prevent malware from infecting them even if the rest of the device is compromised.
Microsoft intends to run virtualization using individual Krypton containers in the future. Although Microsoft announced this feature for Windows 10X, it is not yet available in Windows 11.
Conclusion:
Microsoft has been treating security seriously for some time and has performed well in MITER endpoint detection and response (EDR) testing. The firm is always investing in enhancing Windows’ default security baseline. Windows 11 assists enterprises in meeting the new security concerns of the hybrid workplace, both today and in the future, with built-in chip to cloud protection and layers of security.
Businesses with the resources to replace their hardware should think about moving to Windows 11. It limits the attack surface of your devices and eases the strain on your IT team by decreasing the number of events they must investigate. Given how difficult it is to locate qualified IT security professionals in today’s market, lowering their burden might help you maintain them.
