Analyzes security settings for Windows systems to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.3 is a freeware security analyzer app and additional component, developed by Microsoft for Windows. It's pretty easy-to-use.
The download has been tested by an editor here on a PC and a list of features has been compiled; see below.
A tool for I.T. professionals for security auditing
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) is an easy-to-use tool that helps small and medium businesses determine their security state in accordance with Microsoft security recommendations and offers specific remediation guidance. Improve your security management process by using MBSA to detect common security misconfigurations and missing security updates on your computer systems.
Built on the Windows Update Agent and Microsoft Update infrastructure, MBSA ensures consistency with other Microsoft management products including Microsoft Update (MU), Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Systems Management Server (SMS) and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM).
Version 2.0 retained the hard-coded VA checks, but replaced the Shavlik security assessment engine with Microsoft Update technologies which adds dynamic support for all Microsoft products supported by Microsoft Update. MBSA 2.0.1 was released to support the revised Windows Update (WU) offline scan file (WSUSSCN2.CAB).
MBSA 2.
Features of Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
- Automation: Enables automation of security audits and scans.
- Best practices: Checks system settings against recommended best practices.
- Compliance: Compares systems against security benchmarks.
- Custom checks: Allows users to create custom security settings to check.
- Event log: Checks for security events logged in the Windows event log.
- Hotfixes: Detects installed hotfixes and security patches.
- Patch management: Identifies missing security updates and service packs.
- Reporting: Generates detailed reports on the security state of the system.
- Scheduling: Allows users to schedule scans and audits for compliance purposes.
- Security: Scans for missing security updates and common security misconfigurations.
- Services: Identifies and reports on services configured on the system.
- Shares: Checks for unnecessary shares that might be available to unauthorized users.
- User accounts: Reviews user accounts for potential security issues.
- Vulnerability assessment: Detects weak passwords and other vulnerabilities.
- Weak passwords: Identifies weak passwords and shows how to strengthen them.
Compatibility and License
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is a restricted version of commercial software, often called freemium which requires you to pay a license fee to unlock additional features which are not accessible with the free version. Download and installation of this software is free, however other similar programs are available from components which may have what you need. 2.3.2211 is the latest version last time we checked.
Is Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer discontinued?
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer has now been discontinued (at end of life) and no further updates are to be expected.
Is Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer for Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Yes. It can run on a PC with Windows 11 or Windows 10. Previous versions of the OS shouldn't be a problem with Windows 8 and Windows 7 having been tested. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit downloads.
Filed under:
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer Download
- Free Components
- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.3
- Security Analyzing Software
- Software for Windows 11
