en-US windows-security computer

Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares

Verified with Windows Security Options 25H2 — updated on July 13, 2026

Security policy

This is a Security Options policy (Windows Settings > Security Settings), applied by the security engine — not an Administrative Template (ADMX). In GPMC/gpedit it is configured under Local Policies > Security Options.

Path in the GPO console

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Network access

Description

This setting prevents anonymous users from enumerating both local SAM accounts and network shares. It is enabled by default on current Windows clients. Disabling it assists some legacy discovery mechanisms but reveals account and share names to unauthenticated callers.

Registry

HKLM System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

Value name: RestrictAnonymous

More options available

Options

Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares
RestrictAnonymous boolean

Export Builder

BETA

Configure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.

These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO.

Security policy setting: a domain GPO (Security Settings) can overwrite this registry value at the next policy refresh. Prefer configuring it via GPMC > Security Options.

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares
; State: Enabled

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]
"RestrictAnonymous"=dword:00000001
"RestrictAnonymous"=dword:00000000
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares
# State: Enabled

$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RestrictAnonymous' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RestrictAnonymous' -Value 0 -Type DWord

Embed this policy on your site

What to embed
Theme

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