The machine inactivity limit must be set to 15 minutes, locking the system with the screensaver.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-36773	WN08-SO-000021	SV-48460r2_rule	PESL-1	Medium

Description
Unattended systems are susceptible to unauthorized use and should be locked when unattended. The screen saver should be set at a maximum of 15 minutes and be password protected. This protects critical and sensitive data from exposure to unauthorized personnel with physical access to the computer.

STIG	Date
Windows 8 / 8.1 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2016-06-08

Details

Check Text ( C-45124r1_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. (See "Performing Analysis with the Security Configuration and Analysis Snap-in" in the STIG Overview document.) Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for "Interactive logon: Machine inactivity limit" is not set to "900" seconds or less, this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ Value Name: InactivityTimeoutSecs Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000384 (900)

Check Text ( C-45124r1_chk )

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. (See "Performing Analysis with the Security Configuration and Analysis Snap-in" in the STIG Overview document.)
Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view.
Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options.

If the value for "Interactive logon: Machine inactivity limit" is not set to "900" seconds or less, this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\

Value Name: InactivityTimeoutSecs

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000384 (900)

Fix Text (F-41587r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "Interactive logon: Machine inactivity limit" to "900" seconds".