Vulnerability Discussion

This setting ensures the system uses algorithms that are FIPS compliant for encryption, hashing, and signing. FIPS-compliant algorithms meet specific standards established by the U.S. Government and must be the algorithms used for all OS encryption functions.

Note: A different registry location is needed when systems are managed by Intune versus GPO.

Check

If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\FIPSAlgorithmPolicy\ (For GPO-managed systems)
Or
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Cryptography!AllowFipsAlgorithmPolicy_ProviderSet (For Intune-managed systems)

Value Name: Enabled

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Warning: Clients with this setting enabled will not be able to communicate via digitally encrypted or signed protocols with servers that do not support these algorithms.

Fix

For GPO-managed systems:

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "System cryptography: Use FIPS compliant algorithms for encryption, hashing, and signing" to "Enabled".

For Intune-managed systems:

Set the Intune System Cryptography Policy to use FIPS-compliant algorithms for encryption, hashing, and signing.