Seriously, dream on! End the STIGma is a good thing, but STIGs can be a burden. Hit the easy button, if you’re not already using it. Contact your SQL Data and AI Cloud Solutions Architect for the latest SQL STIG Monitor 2024 Q4 build!
Latest SQL STIG monitor 31 Oct 2024 release includes
DISA UPDATES – see link
MS SQL Server 2016 Instance STIG, V3R2:
(NOTE: DISA has been contacted to remove related CCI STIGID for AzureSQLDB that was overlooked: ASQL-00-010700)
POWERSHELL MODULE
Updated version to 1.23
Added STIGID parameter to Invoke-StigMonitor allowing granular control over STIGID scanning.
DATABASE CHANGES
Updated Checklist Templates for Q4 Revisions.
Updated Instance & Database STIG for Q4 benchmark date.
Script updates include:
CNTNMIXDB: Not A Finding if using Windows Auth
FORCENRYPT: NA if using Windows Auth
PWDCMPLX: Updated Finding to remove OS STIG reference
AZDBPERMISS: Revised script with new version.
DBPERMISS: Revised script with new version.
ENFCACCSS: Revised script with new version.
PSERRPERM: Revised script with new version.
UNQSVCACC: Removed code stripping out port number.
AZAUDITSTATE: Properly returns No Finding when audit setup is correct.
Fixed bug in vDocumentation view causing POAMs to not display custom comment in exported documentation.
Added usp_RemoveInstance stored procedure to easily clean up a specific Instance from StigMonitor that no longer exists.
DOCUMENTS
Updated checklist templates, Approvals scripts, and Documentation Templates for Q4 Revisions.
Removed Set-CEIPRegKeys.ps1, Set-FIPSCompliance.ps1, and Set-SqlRegKey.ps1 in favor of Module commands.
Updated InfoPage with new StigMonitor logo and text references.
Documentation updated with new examples of Invoke-StigMonitor STIGID parameter.
Updated documentation to add Azure DB Permission for MS_SecurityDefinitionReader.
Added DatabaseName to CSV Export of Export-StigDocumentation.
REPORTS
Updated Report banner to display new StigMonitor logo and latest report versions.
Removed Adhoc scanning to Policy Management Report in favor of Invoke-StigMonitor parameter.
Removed references to Sunset 2012 and 2014 STIGs.
Added AzureSQLMI for future use.
Combined NF and Approved in Total Findings summary
Reduced Recent Scans to latest 6.
Also please send us your feedback if you get a chance to check this out.
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Let’s discuss SCOM SSRS permissions. The SCOM Reporting role install really comes down to three (3) things – permissions, latest SSRS EXE downloaded (for install 2019, 2022), and ReportExtensions configuration. I’ve hit some permission issues that need more ‘how to’ details.
Set SCOM Admins group permissions
Whether the permissions are set up as part of a group policy (GPO) or not, if these steps are missing, expect problems.
Verify that your SCOM Admins domain group is a local administrator on the SCOM servers (SSRS server in this case)
Right click on Start > Computer Management
Expand System Tools
Expand Local Users and Groups
Click on Groups
Double click on Administrators
Verify SCOM Admins group, or specific service/MSA accounts are listed
Computer Management with Administrators group properties documenting relevant members which include the SCOM Admins group, and any other SQL related service accounts.
Click OK
Set SQL Instance permissions for SCOM Admins group
For a smooth install, everything comes down to SCOM SSRS prerequisites. The SCOM Reporting role install really comes down to three (3) things – permissions, latest SSRS EXE downloaded (for install 2019, 2022), and ReportExtensions configuration. The go-to reference is Holman’s QuickStart deployment guides for SCOM2019 forward list the how-to starting point. This post focuses on ReportExtensions configuration, where more ‘how to’ details are needed.
Latest revision first includes a EventID 2502 monitor for scavenging failed. Second, the monitor has count logic (setup to alert with 2 events in 30 minutes). Third, EventID 2501 rule details scavenging totals. Lastly, built a weekly report to summarize the scavenging alerts (cliff notes!).
Some quick ‘how-to’ setup DNS scavenging
Example of RegKey showing that Scavenging is setup – note Scavenging Interval key
Example of AD integrated DNS setup with 21 day scavenging interval, and prompts to configure (click OK twice)
DNS Scavenging setup on AD integrated DNS server
Import management pack, and run DNS scavenging.
Verify scavenging alerts
SCOM Monitoring Tab > Active Alerts > ‘Look for:’ scavenging
Example output
Additional SCOM PowerShell commands
Run PowerShell commands from the SCOM management server (MS)
When we talk about best practices for monitoring, this will typically include (SLA) Service Level Availability. SLA is an important piece in your environment, as uptime and happy customers come with a high SLA. There are some cases where IT Teams do work on demand. On-demand work is outside of a standard change window, a scheduled change. Typically this is outside configuration management tools, responsible to update software (applications/packages), machines, drivers, compliance settings, and more. In the one-off, non-scheduled maintenance or recovery, try leveraging ‘SCOM Agent Maintenance’ PowerShell commands on SCOM agents.
SCOM Agent maintenance PowerShell commands
cd “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Monitoring Agent\Agent”
It’s that time again, time to update SQL. Just in case your configuration management solution automatically add SQL updates, you can be prepared. Secondly, if you have to tell the configuration management team to approve updates, patches, this will help jumpstart that process. Either way, knowing about the updates helps you make decisions for your organization’s change process. I believe ‘knowledge is power’, so power up and take away whatever you need to keep up to date.
Subset of the SQL product group released ‘new SQL updates’ in July
The 14th cumulative update release for SQL Server 2022 RTM is now available for download at the Microsoft Downloads site. Please note that registration is no longer required to download Cumulative updates.
To learn more about the release or servicing model, please visit:
Starting with SQL Server 2017, we adopted a new modern servicing model. Please refer to our blog for more details on Modern Servicing Model for SQL Server
Microsoft System Center Management Pack for SQL Server enables the discovery and monitoring of SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and upcoming versions.
Depending on requirements, creating multiple subscriptions within SCOM to leverage subscriber/channels required. Selecting rules/monitors, and resolution state conditions to help Application teams get incidents for key issues requiring intervention. NOTE Depending on what was command channels were created for various AssignmentGroup(s) and Team(s) within the organization.
Configure channel to execute logAlert.ps1 command channel to verify SCOM outputs
SCOM Navigation steps:
Click on Administration Tab > Notifications > Channels
Click New
Name
TEST Holman’s Command Channel
Description
C:\MonAdmin\Scripts\LogAlert.ps1 Utilize LogAlert.ps1 example from Holman’s blog. Specific Subscription details: +CRITERIA = ALL Alerts +RESOLUTIONSTATE = NEW (0) +SUBSCRIBER = CHANNEL SCOM Command Channel Subscriber via POWERSHELL +CHANNEL Test LogAlert.ps1 SCOM Command Channel
Setup and use Holman’s script execution channel blog to test what account SCOM uses for notifications
NOTE Use these steps to create multiple command channels, as the AssignmentGroup and Team may differ depending on Application Owners
SCOM Navigation steps:
Click on Administration Tab > Notifications > Channels
Click New
Name
TEST SNOW Event Creation
Description
C:\MonAdmin\Scripts\New-SNowEvent.ps1 Outputs 711 Events into Operations Manager event log.
Specific Subscription details: +CRITERIA = ALL Alerts +SUBSCRIBER = CHANNEL New-SNowEvent.ps1 via POWERSHELL +CHANNEL ServiceNow SNOW Event Creation Channel
New-SNOWEvent.ps1 command channel creates ServiceNow SNOW events for alerts and incidents.
This channel will also update the SCOM alert TicketID, Owner, ResolutionState to modify SCOM alert with SNOW information, or information passed in SNOW event.
NOTE Use these steps to create multiple command channels, as the AssignmentGroup and Team may differ depending on Application Owners
SCOM Navigation steps:
Click on Administration Tab > Notifications > Channels
Click New
Name
TEST SNOW Event Creation
Description
C:\MonAdmin\Scripts\New-SNowEvent.ps1 Outputs 711 Events into Operations Manager event log.
Specific Subscription details: +CRITERIA = ALL Alerts +SUBSCRIBER = CHANNEL New-SNowEvent.ps1 via POWERSHELL +CHANNEL ServiceNow SNOW Event Creation Channel
New-SNOWEvent.ps1 command channel creates ServiceNow SNOW events for alerts and incidents.
This channel will also update the SCOM alert TicketID, Owner, ResolutionState to modify SCOM alert with SNOW information, or information passed in SNOW event.
Read the ‘Configure SCOM Subscribers’ blog to build out the SNOW subscribers for multiple PowerShell command channels. Create subscribers according to design requirements.
CHANNEL New-SNowEvent.ps1 via POWERSHELL
Follow the screenshots and fill in the wizard per the steps below.
Time to update SCOM, specifically to ‘create SCOM Command Channels’, then subscribers, and subscriptions. Depending on requirements, create multiple channels within SCOM.
Save .ps1 file(s) to SCOM MS
LogAlert.ps1 to verify SCOM notification account
New-SNowEvent.ps1 to inject events into ServiceNow
New-SNowIncident.ps1 to inject incidents into ServiceNow
Save LogAlert.ps1
Create Command channel script and save to SCOM MS(s)
SNOW Event command channel injects ServiceNow SNOW events, with logic to check for alert, incident, then update the SCOM alert TicketID, Owner, ResolutionState based on runtime.
SCOM Navigation steps:
Click on Administration Tab > Notifications > Channels
Click New
Name
ServiceNow SNOW Event Creation Channel
Use New-SNowEvent.ps1 to create SCOM subscription that creates SNOW incidents, then updates SCOM alert with TicketID, Owner, Resolution State for SCOM alert.
This command channel helps admins determine variables possible to pass to PowerShell script(s).
SCOM Navigation steps:
Click on Administration Tab > Notifications > Channels
Click New
Name
ServiceNow SNOW Incident creation channel
Use New-SNowIncident.ps1 to create SCOM subscription that creates SNOW incidents, then updates SCOM alert with TicketID, Owner, Resolution State for SCOM alert.
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