[SOLUTION] file server review scope

file server review scope

I was hoping to scope out some useful tests to include as part of an audit / health check of some traditional file servers, which act as team repositories for shared documents/files, and another acts as a home drive server where each employee has a home drive area locked down just to them. I was thinking of basics such as:

access control lists (ACL) - ensure permissions on directories are appropriately restricted and restrict access based upon need to known principles
teams consuming masses of space (poor internal practices)
documents with no recent last access attribute - compare to data retention requirements etc
non-administrators who have full control over shares/directories (should not be the case)
general OS security (e.g patches, local administrators, backups)
general monitoring (e.g. capacity/free space)

can you think of any more areas that would be of benefit in such a review?

access control lists (ACL) - ensure permissions on directories are appropriately restricted and restrict access based upon need to known principles

ACLS directly on users, groups with no members, groups with one user.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/32349/FSMainFolder-Files-Server-Structure-Automation-Tool.html
I prefer delegation and role groups and I automate folder permissions (I have an automated created of group and folder process too)
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/29366/Delegation-the-proper-way.html

documents with no recent last access attribute - compare to data retention requirements etc

In such a report you should use date created, date modified and date access such as here
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/32531/File-Share-Archiving-Solution.html

teams consuming masses of space (poor internal practices)

FSRM has some nice reports. Archiving (above) and dedup will take care of this

non-administrators who have full control over shares/directories (should not be the case)

Part of an ACL audit with SetACL.exe perhaps. If you use FSMainFolder tool above you will not have this issue

general OS security (e.g patches, local administrators, backups)

I prefer to enfore rather than audit local admins. for this I use preferences
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/29652/Strategy-to-centrally-manage-Local-Administrators-group-from-Active-Directory.html

general monitoring (e.g. capacity/free space)

FSRM has some nice reports

Additional things to check to detect ransomware

Mass changes
Files with unknow type (using magic number)

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LVL 49

Shaun VermaakTechnical SpecialistCommented: 2018-10-02

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LVL 60

Raja Jegan RSQL Server DBA & Architect, EE Solution GuideCommented: 2018-10-11

I've seen one of my client using the below tool to audit their File Server..
Try using the trial version to see the key parameters that it is measuring and ensure that you have all those metrics or checklist available in place or not..
If you like the tool, then you can buy it or else just go through their website to see the list of metrics they capture for Cybersecurity..
https://www.lepide.com/lepideauditor/file-share-auditing.html

LVL 4

pma111Author Commented: 2018-10-22

I wasn't necessarily talking about auditing in the sense of what has changed to files etc.

file server review scope

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