Windows 7 account lockout duration must be configured to 15 minutes or greater.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-1099	4.004	SV-25014r3_rule		Medium

Description
The account lockout feature, when enabled, prevents brute-force password attacks on the system. This parameter specifies the amount of time that an account will remain locked after the specified number of failed logon attempts.

STIG	Date
Windows 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-05-16

Details

Check Text ( C-74307r1_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Account Policies >> Account Lockout Policy. If the "Account lockout duration" is less than "15" minutes (excluding "0"), this is a finding. Configuring this to "0", requiring an administrator to unlock the account, is more restrictive and is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-74307r1_chk )

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in.
Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view.
Navigate to Account Policies >> Account Lockout Policy.

If the "Account lockout duration" is less than "15" minutes (excluding "0"), this is a finding.

Configuring this to "0", requiring an administrator to unlock the account, is more restrictive and is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-80973r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Account Lockout Policy >> "Account lockout duration" to "15" minutes or greater. A value of "0" is also acceptable, requiring an administrator to unlock the account.