Microsoft network server: Disconnect clients when sign-in hours expire
Applies to
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
Describes the best practices, location, values, and security considerations for the Microsoft network server: Disconnect clients when logon hours expire security policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting enables or disables the forced disconnection of users who are connected to the local device outside their user account's valid sign-in hours. It affects the SMB component. If you enable this policy setting, client computer sessions with the SMB service are forcibly disconnected when the client's sign-in hours expire. If you disable this policy setting, established client device sessions are maintained after the client device's sign-in hours expire.
Possible values
Enabled
Client device sessions with the SMB service are forcibly disconnected when the client device's sign-in hours expire. If sign-in hours aren't used in your organization, enabling this policy setting will have no impact.
Disabled
The system maintains an established client device session after the client device's sign-in hours have expired.
Not defined
Best practices
- If you enable this policy setting, you should also enable Network security: Force logoff when logon hours expire.
Location
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options
Default values
The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.
| Server type or GPO | Default value |
|---|---|
| Default Domain Policy | Not defined |
| Default Domain Controller Policy | Not defined |
| Stand-Alone Server Default Settings | Enabled |
| DC Effective Default Settings | Enabled |
| Member Server Effective Default Settings | Enabled |
| Client Computer Effective Default Settings | Enabled |
Policy management
This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy.
Restart requirement
None. Changes to this policy become effective without a device restart when they're saved locally or distributed through Group Policy.
Group Policy
This policy setting can be configured by using the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to be distributed through Group Policy Objects (GPOs). If this policy isn't contained in a distributed GPO, this policy can be configured on the local computer by using the Local Security Policy snap-in.
Security considerations
This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation.
Vulnerability
If your organization configures sign-in hours for users, it makes sense to enable this policy setting. Otherwise, users who shouldn't have access to network resources outside of their sign-in hours can continue to use those resources with sessions that were established during allowed hours.
Countermeasure
Enable the Microsoft network server: Disconnect clients when logon hours expire setting.
Potential impact
If sign-in hours aren't used in your organization, this policy setting has no impact. If sign-in hours are used, existing user sessions are forcibly terminated when their sign-in hours expire.