Microsoft Windows 10 STIG Version Comparison

There are 14 differences between versions v3 r3 (Jan. 30, 2025) (the "left" version) and v3 r5 (Oct. 1, 2025) (the "right" version).

Check WN10-AU-000581 was added to the benchmark in the "right" version.

This check's original form is available here.

Title

Windows 10 must be configured to audit file system failures.

Check Content

Verify that Audit File System auditing has been enabled: Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Advanced Audit Policy Configuration >> System Audit Policies >> Object Access >> Audit File System. If "Audit File System" is not set to "Failure", this is a finding.

Discussion

Maintaining an audit trail of system activity logs can help identify configuration errors, troubleshoot service disruptions, and analyze compromises that have occurred, as well as detect attacks. Audit logs are necessary to provide a trail of evidence in case the system or network is compromised. Collecting this data is essential for analyzing the security of information assets and detecting signs of suspicious and unexpected behavior. Credential validation records events related to validation tests on credentials for a user account logon.

Fix

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Advanced Audit Policy Configuration >> System Audit Policies >> Object Access >> "Audit File System" with "Failure" selected.