IIS services on Japanese cloud servers face more complex security challenges than in traditional data centers. The openness and shared nature of cloud environments make IIS servers more vulnerable to potential attackers. Basic hardening is the cornerstone of an IIS security architecture. From the initial installation, a minimalist approach should be followed, installing only essential business components and disabling all unnecessary web service extensions.
Removing the default site and clearing unnecessary application extension mappings is crucial, especially for dangerous extensions like .asa and .cer. Simultaneously, changing the IIS log path to a non-system drive and setting strict access permissions, allowing only Administrators and SYSTEM users access, prevents attackers from tampering with logs and ensures the integrity of audit data.
Building a robust permission system is key to preventing unauthorized access. Create independent anonymous access accounts for each website, replacing the default IUSR account, to achieve permission isolation between different sites. NTFS permission configuration should follow the principle of "write and execute permissions mutually exclusive": write permissions are allowed but execution is prohibited in the upload directory, execution permissions are allowed but write permissions are prohibited in the script directory, and static resource directories are typically assigned only read permissions. Application pool identity should use ApplicationPoolIdentity instead of NetworkService to av
oid excessive permission diffusion.
xml
<!-- Configure request filtering rules in Web.config -->
<configuration>
<system.webServer>
<security>
<requestFiltering>
<fileExtensions allowUnlisted="false">
<add fileExtension=".asp" allowed="true"/>
<add fileExtension=".html" allowed="true"/>
</fileExtensions>
<requestLimits maxAllowedContentLength="30000000"/>
<hiddenSegments>
<add segment="WEB-INF"/>
</hiddenSegments>
</requestFiltering>
</security>
</system.webServer>
</configuration>The request filtering mechanism constitutes an application-layer firewall. A file extension whitelist is created in the IIS request filtering module to block access from unknown extensions. A reasonable maximum request content length is set (recommended within 30MB) to effectively defend against buffer overflow attacks and large file upload attacks. URL length limits and hidden segment protection are also configured to block directory traversal attack paths. For HTTP verbs, high-risk methods such as TRACE and DEBUG should be disabled, retaining only necessary methods like GET and POST.
Network layer control implements access source filtering. Through IP address and domain name restrictions, configure access to the management backend to only allow cloud-secure IPs or specific trusted IP ranges. Combined with Japanese cloud server security group rules, implement comprehensive blocking of ports other than 80 and 443 at the network layer. Enable SSL/TLS and configure forced HTTPS redirection, using HSTS headers to prevent SSL stripping attacks. Password policies require passwords to be longer than 8 characters, include multiple character types, and be rotated regularly.
Log monitoring and incident response form a security closed loop. Enable W3C extended logging and configure advanced field capture, including 23 key indicators such as client IP, protocol version, and response time. Deploy a real-time log analysis system and establish alarm thresholds for consecutive 401 errors and abnormal POST requests. Use tools such as Log Parser for automated log analysis to quickly identify attack patterns. Conduct regular penetration testing and security audits to promptly identify configuration defects.
Example of analyzing attack logs using Log Parser:
`logparser -i:W3C "SELECT c-ip, cs(User-Agent), COUNT(*) FROM ex*.log WHERE sc-status=401 GROUP BY c-ip, cs(User-Agent) HAVING COUNT(*) > 10"`A continuous maintenance mechanism ensures long-term security. A patch management process is established, with monthly checks and installation of IIS and operating system security updates. An automated configuration file backup strategy ensures rapid recovery after an attack. Regular security scans and configuration checks are performed, using tools such as the IIS Lockdown Tool to eliminate potential risks. Simultaneously, emerging threat intelligence is monitored, and security strategies are adjusted promptly to address new attack methods.
Utilizing a multi-layered, multi-faceted security architecture, the IIS service on Japanese cloud servers can establish a comprehensive protection system from network to application, prevention to detection. This systematic security practice not only helps reduce attack risks but also provides assurance for the security and continuity of business data.
