Endpoint Security Hardening (ASR, BitLocker)

Harden Windows endpoints with practical security baselines using Intune and Defender capabilities - reducing attack surface while maintaining usability and operational control.

Endpoint hardening is about reducing the likelihood and impact of compromise on user devices. In many organisations, devices are enrolled and “managed”, but key security controls are inconsistently applied: disk encryption status is unknown, local admin privileges are unmanaged, and protections such as Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules are not deployed or tuned. The result is an environment where ransomware, credential theft, and malicious macros or scripts can spread more easily than they should.

LW IT Solutions delivers Endpoint Security Hardening (ASR, BitLocker) as a structured service to implement and operationalise core Windows hardening controls using Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender capabilities where available. We define a baseline aligned to your risk profile, implement policy sets, validate impact through pilot groups, and provide operational guidance so the controls remain effective over time. Specific capabilities can vary by licensing and your current endpoint stack, which we confirm during discovery before implementation.

Talk through your requirements and leave with a clear next-step plan.

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Service Overview

Highlights

Practical use of Intune and Defender endpoint capabilities
Pilot-first deployment to reduce disruption
Clear rationale documented for each control and rule choice
Focus on operational ownership and exception handling
Designed to remain effective as devices and users change

Business Benefits

Reduce exposure to ransomware, credential theft, and common endpoint attack techniques
Increase confidence that device encryption is consistently enabled and recoverable
Apply ASR protections in a controlled way that avoids unnecessary user disruption
Standardise endpoint security posture across devices using repeatable baselines
Provide clear evidence of endpoint hardening for security and assurance discussions

Typical use cases

Low or inconsistent BitLocker coverage across Windows devices
Ransomware or malware incidents highlighting weak endpoint controls
Preparing for cyber insurance renewal or security assurance review
Rolling out Intune-managed security baselines for the first time
Need to enable ASR rules safely without impacting productivity

Objectives & deliverables

What Success Looks Like

Improve ransomware resilience by reducing common attack paths and risky behaviours
Increase assurance that device encryption and key management are correctly implemented
Deploy and tune ASR rules to reduce malicious macros, scripts, and process exploitation
Standardise endpoint security settings using repeatable policy baselines
Provide evidence and reporting approach for security and compliance stakeholders

What You Get

Endpoint security baseline design pack with policy rationale and rollout approach
Implemented BitLocker policy configuration (within agreed scope) and recovery key handling guidance
Implemented ASR rule baseline with staged rollout plan and tuning notes
Validation outcomes from pilot groups and recommended remediation actions
Operational handover pack: runbooks, exception processes, and reporting guidance

How It Works

Discovery - confirm device estate, management model, licensing, and risk priorities
Baseline design - define BitLocker and ASR rule sets aligned to your environment and constraints
Pilot - deploy policies to controlled groups and validate usability, alerts, and impact
Rollout - phase deployment across the wider estate with monitoring and change control
Operationalise - deliver runbooks, exception handling, and reporting guidance

Engagement Options

Baseline Hardening - design and deploy a core BitLocker and ASR baseline
Hardening + Tuning - baseline deployment plus staged tuning based on real-world feedback
Targeted Control Rollout - focus on specific controls such as ASR rules or encryption only

Common Bundles

Customers who use this service often bundle with these services

Windows Autopilot & Device Lifecycle
Standardise Windows provisioning and refresh using Autopilot with consistent join strategies, app baselines, and lifecycle processes that reduce effort.

Windows Update Management (Autopatch/WUfB/Intune)
Design and run Windows update management using Autopatch, Windows Update for Business, and Intune with rings, reporting, and rollback control.

Defender for Endpoint (EDR)
Deploy and operationalise Defender for Endpoint with phased onboarding, tuned policies, and clear triage workflows across managed device estates.

Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on Enablement
Enable Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management add-on with defined scope, remediation workflows, ownership and reporting so exposure insights drive prioritised action.

Intune Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM)
Implement Intune Endpoint Privilege Management to reduce standing local admin rights using controlled elevation, auditing, pilot rollout, and governance.