Overview
This is a repackaged software product wherein additional charges apply for Seller Premium Support. The Microsoft Windows Server 2025 instance is pre-configured and security-hardened to meet the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) standard. This hardening reduces the attack surface, improves security posture, and provides a stronger foundation than a baseline image for organizations that require higher security and compliance readiness. We include regularly updated hardened configuration packages, critical security patches, and STIG hotfixes to ensure your environment remains secure, compliant, and reliable. Along with these updates, we provide limited premium OS support to assist you with troubleshooting, optimization, and deployment guidance.
North Security is a US-based cybersecurity team located on the East Coast, specializing in Managed Security Services (MSSP) and Virtual CISO offerings for businesses. Our customers value this hardened image because it is consistently maintained with the latest STIG-compliant updates and backed by knowledgeable support. The inclusion of premium support helps organizations accelerate their production deployments while maintaining a strict security posture.
We provide support for both Linux- and Windows-based hardened operating systems, including extended support options when required. Our team has decades of combined cybersecurity experience, giving you confidence that your systems are maintained, secured, and supported by proven experts. Whether you are running mission-critical Linux servers or Windows workloads, we have the expertise to keep your hardened environment secure and running efficiently.
Please note that due to the enhanced security configuration, some features or workflows may require additional configuration or workarounds. This is expected behavior for a security-hardened image and reflects its higher security baseline compared to standard images.
We take pride in our customer service. All support tickets are responded to quickly, and we work tirelessly to ensure that our customers are fully taken care of from start to finish. Our focus is not only on security but also on helping you successfully bring your workloads into production as quickly and smoothly as possible. By choosing our hardened premium supported image, you are partnering with a trusted team that is committed to your success.
Highlights
- This hardened VM image is verified to run reliably in production and meets DISA Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) standards. It provides a stronger, more secure foundation than baseline images. By choosing a hardened, verified image, you reduce the risk of vulnerabilities, downtime, and costly remediation.
- Benefit from direct access to our expert team for help with troubleshooting, compliance guidance, and performance optimization. We understand the unique requirements of hardened workloads and provide practical solutions to keep you running smoothly. Our team can assist you in maximizing security while ensuring compliance.
- We regularly maintain this image to include the latest STIG updates, security patches, and hotfixes, ensuring your environment remains compliant and protected over time. Combined with our limited premium OS support, you can operate with confidence knowing your system is secure, up to date, and production-ready.
Details
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Dimension | Cost/hour |
---|---|
t3.large Recommended | $1.60 |
t3.micro AWS Free Tier | $0.36 |
vt1.6xlarge | $1.60 |
p6-b200.48xlarge | $6.20 |
c4.8xlarge | $1.60 |
c4.large | $1.60 |
c7i-flex.large | $1.60 |
c7i-flex.8xlarge | $1.60 |
g4dn.2xlarge | $1.60 |
inf2.8xlarge | $1.60 |
Vendor refund policy
Unfortunately, refunds are not available. Charges apply only for the hours during which the instances are actively running.
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Delivery details
64-bit (x86) Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
An AMI is a virtual image that provides the information required to launch an instance. Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) instances are virtual servers on which you can run your applications and workloads, offering varying combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources. You can launch as many instances from as many different AMIs as you need.
Version release notes
Initial release of Microsoft Windows Server 2025 hardened STIG-compliant image with premium support by North Security
Additional details
Usage instructions
RDP Access Instructions for Hardened Windows Images
1. Launch the Hardened Image
Deploy the hardened Windows Server image into your secure VPC using the AWS Console, Terraform, or other infrastructure-as-code tooling.
2. Restrict Network Access
Update the instance Security Group to:
- Allow RDP (TCP port 3389) only from your trusted IP address
- Avoid exposing to 0.0.0.0/0
- If using AWS Systems Manager (SSM), you do not need to open any inbound ports
3. Optional but Recommended
- Use AWS Systems Manager Session Manager for administrative access
- Alternatively, connect via VPN or bastion host if you choose to expose RDP
4. Retrieve the Default Administrator Password
Using the AWS Console
- Go to EC2 > Instances
- Select your Windows instance
- Click "Get Windows Password"
- Upload the private key (.pem) used when launching the instance
- The password for the Administrator account will be decrypted and displayed
Using AWS CLI
Run the following command:
aws ec2 get-password-data -instance-id i-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -priv-launch-key path/to/your-key.pem
5. Connect via RDP
- Open Remote Desktop Connection on your local machine
- Enter the public IP or DNS name of the instance
- Login using the username Administrator and the retrieved password
6. Security Group Reminder
- Ensure port 3389 is open only to your IP address
7. Other Notes
- No additional hardening steps are required
- The system is already pre-hardened with over 300 security controls
- You can immediately begin using the instance for production or testing workloads
Resources
Vendor resources
Support
Vendor support
This instance includes limited premium OS support for your hardened configuration, covering both general OS usage and security-specific troubleshooting. You can reach our support team directly at support@hardenedvm.com .
AWS infrastructure support
AWS Support is a one-on-one, fast-response support channel that is staffed 24x7x365 with experienced and technical support engineers. The service helps customers of all sizes and technical abilities to successfully utilize the products and features provided by Amazon Web Services.