Ever received delayed responses from transactional servers while making an online purchase? Or thrifty server payloads including JSON, HTML or XML, bringing down the server’s performance to much extent. This unexpected downtime in the server's functionality may be a possible outcome of hidden vulnerabilities lurking beneath the surface.

Well, you’re not alone! Several system administrators dependent on commonly deployed server options like Microsoft Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2019, are juggling with this constant struggle of boosting server performance and staying immune to server threats. If you are tired of battling these issues and looking for simple fixes, then you’re certainly at the right place. This guide will walk you through 5 simple hacks to leverage your server’s performance and security. Below is the Windows Server 2022 security checklist represented as advanced hacks for

1. Use Sysinternals Tools to Uncover Hidden Performance Bottlenecks

Windows Sysinternals tools act like an amplifier for your server. Tools such as Process Explorer, Autoruns, and TCPView offer unparalleled insights into server operations.

• Process Explorer allows you to narrow down your search on the processes that are hogging CPU resources in real-time. If a specific application is causing slowdowns, Process Explorer provides detailed information about its dependencies and behavior.

• Autoruns identifies all programs configured to run at startup, including those often hidden from Task Manager. This is particularly useful for spotting unauthorized or malicious programs that quietly slip through traditional security checks.

• TCPView monitors network connections, helping you detect unusual traffic that could indicate a breach or unauthorized activity.

Hack Tip: These tools shouldn’t be focused on performing diagnostics checks, but also for proactive monitoring. For instance, regularly auditing startup programs with Autoruns can prevent latent malware from wreaking havoc.

2. Tweak Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with a hack

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a breeding ground for cyberattacks, given the vulnerabilities associated with the nature of protocols . While the standard advice to disable RDP when not in use may work fine in some cases, there’s a smarter way to manage it.

• Deploy Remote Desktop Gateway: This acts as a secure tunnel for RDP connections, ensuring that all remote access is encrypted and authenticated.

• Use Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: When using Azure or a similar cloud platform, configure JIT access to allow RDP connections only during specific time frames. This significantly reduces the attack surface.

• Set Up RDP Honeypots: For a more advanced approach, create a decoy route for the RDP server to log and monitor self-initiated brute-force attempts. This tactic not only protects the real server but also provides valuable data for threat analysis.

Hack Tip: Combine JIT access with dynamic IP whitelisting. This ensures that only known, trusted IPs can connect to RDP.

3. Leverage SMB Signing to Mitigate Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

Server Message Block (SMB) protocols are commonly exploited for man-in-the-middle attacks, where malicious actors intercept and alter communications. The solution? Enforce SMB signing.

SMB signing ensures that all SMB packets are digitally signed, verifying their authenticity before they’re processed. Here’s how you can implement it:

1. Open Group Policy Management Console.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.
3. Enable Microsoft Network Server: Digitally Sign Communications (Always).

Hack Tip: Use tools like Wireshark to analyze SMB traffic periodically. This helps you detect any unauthorized connections or attempts to bypass SMB signing.

4. Implement a Custom Windows Server Hardening Script

Why manually configure server settings when you can automate the process? Using PowerShell scripts to harden your Windows Server not only saves time but also ensures consistency across multiple servers. Implement your powershell scripts on the licensed version of Windows server, making this a prerequisite for getting this hack work as planned. Explore more recent server-related product updates on DirectDeals, a registered Microsoft reseller.

Here’s what a hardening script can do:

• Disable unnecessary services.
• Apply security baselines.
• Restrict unsecure protocols like SMBv1.
• Enable advanced logging and auditing.

Where to begin: Platforms like GitHub host open-source hardening scripts tailored for Windows Servers. Download a script, review its parameters, and customize it to fit your specific needs.

Hack Tip: Use a version control system to manage your scripts. This allows you to track changes, roll back updates, and ensure compliance with organizational policies.

5. Automate Vulnerability Scanning with OpenVAS or Nexpose

Manual vulnerability checks are time-consuming and prone to oversight. Automating this process with tools like OpenVAS (open-source) or Nexpose (enterprise-grade) not only saves time but also ensures comprehensive scans.

These tools can identify:

• Unpatched software vulnerabilities.
• Open ports that shouldn’t be exposed.
• Misconfigured services that could be exploited.

Hack Tip: Schedule scans to run during off-peak hours and focus on critical vulnerabilities first. Configure these tools to send real-time alerts for high-risk findings, ensuring you can act quickly.

Wrapping up- Hack Your Way to a Better Server

These five hacks go beyond the conventional recommended moves, tackling vulnerabilities and inefficiencies that many admins overlook. By readily implementing these tools like Sysinternals, hardening RDP access, enforcing SMB signing, automating vulnerability scans, and leveraging custom scripts, you’re not just managing a server—you’re future-proofing it.

Start implementing these strategies today to see the difference in your server’s performance and security. And remember, the key to success lies in staying proactive and thinking outside the box.