diff --git a/.github/workflows/configuration-results.yml b/.github/workflows/configuration-results.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6da70e8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/configuration-results.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+name: Configuration result regressions
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ['**']
+  pull_request:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+jobs:
+  configuration-results:
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+      - name: Mocked regressions in Windows PowerShell 5.1
+        shell: powershell
+        run: ./tests/Test-ConfigurationResults.ps1
+      - name: Read-only Windows smoke in Windows PowerShell 5.1
+        shell: powershell
+        run: ./tests/Test-ConfigurationReadOnlyWindows.ps1
+      - name: Mocked regressions in PowerShell 7
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: ./tests/Test-ConfigurationResults.ps1
+      - name: Read-only Windows smoke in PowerShell 7
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: ./tests/Test-ConfigurationReadOnlyWindows.ps1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 96c929f5..4785fb1f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p release-binaries
           Copy-Item -Path WELA.ps1 -Destination release-binaries/
           Copy-Item -Recurse -Path ./config -Destination release-binaries/
+          Copy-Item -Recurse -Path ./scripts -Destination release-binaries/
 
       - name: Set Artifact Name
         if: contains(matrix.info.os, 'windows') == true
diff --git a/WELA.ps1 b/WELA.ps1
index 4347f27c..ff13668a 100644
--- a/WELA.ps1
+++ b/WELA.ps1
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
     [switch]$Auto,
     [ValidateSet("PreserveOrAudit", "Audit", "Deny")]
     [string]$OutgoingNtlmMode = "PreserveOrAudit",
+    [switch]$DryRun,
+    [string]$BackupPath,
+    [string]$ResultsPath,
     [switch]$Help
 )
 
@@ -19,6 +22,7 @@ $SecurityRulesPath  = Join-Path $ScriptRoot "config/security_rules.json"
 $EidMappingPath     = Join-Path $ScriptRoot "config/eid_subcategory_mapping.csv"
 $AuditpolTxtPath    = Join-Path $ScriptRoot "auditpol.txt"
 $SaclTargetsPath    = Join-Path $ScriptRoot "config/audit_sacl_targets.json"
+. (Join-Path $ScriptRoot "scripts/Configuration.ps1")
 
 # 64bit の PowerShell と GPO が読むのは Wow6432Node の無いパス。32bit 用に両方を扱う。
 $PowerShellPolicyRoots = @(
@@ -1036,7 +1040,11 @@ function Get-WelaDomainNtlmState {
 
 function Set-WelaDomainNtlmAudit {
     [CmdletBinding(SupportsShouldProcess = $true)]
-    param ([switch]$Auto)
+    param ([switch]$Auto, $Context)
+    if ($Context) {
+        Set-WelaNtlmConfigurationControl -Context $Context -Scope Domain -WhatIf:$WhatIfPreference
+        return
+    }
     $state = Get-WelaDomainNtlmState
     Write-Host "Domain NTLM auditing: $($state.Description)"
     if (-not $state.Applicable) {
@@ -1084,10 +1092,23 @@ function Set-RegistryConfig {
         [array]$RegPaths,
 
         [Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
-        [switch]$Auto
+        [switch]$Auto,
+        $Context
     )
 
     foreach ($reg in $RegPaths) {
+        if ($Context) {
+            if ($PSCmdlet.ShouldProcess("$($reg.Path)\$($reg.Name)", "Set to $($reg.Value)")) {
+                Set-WelaRegistryControl -Context $Context -Path $reg.Path -Name $reg.Name -Value $reg.Value
+            } else {
+                $Context.Results.Add([pscustomobject]@{
+                    Id = "Registry/$($reg.Path)/$($reg.Name)"; Kind = 'Registry'
+                    Target = @{ Path = $reg.Path; Name = $reg.Name }; Desired = $reg.Value
+                    Before = $null; After = $null; Status = 'Skipped'; Diagnostic = 'ShouldProcess declined the change.'
+                })
+            }
+            continue
+        }
         try {
             $currentValue = "Not Set"
             $pathExists = Test-Path $reg.Path
@@ -1190,8 +1211,13 @@ function Set-WelaOutgoingNtlmPolicy {
     param (
         [ValidateSet('PreserveOrAudit', 'Audit', 'Deny')]
         [string]$Mode = 'PreserveOrAudit',
-        [switch]$Auto
+        [switch]$Auto,
+        $Context
     )
+    if ($Context) {
+        Set-WelaNtlmConfigurationControl -Context $Context -Scope Outgoing -Mode $Mode -WhatIf:$WhatIfPreference
+        return
+    }
     $path = 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\MSV1_0'
     $name = 'RestrictSendingNTLMTraffic'
     $state = Get-WelaOutgoingNtlmState
@@ -1245,70 +1271,21 @@ function Set-WelaOutgoingNtlmPolicy {
 
 function ConfigureAuditSettings {
     param (
-        [switch] $Auto,
+        [switch]$Auto, [switch]$Debug, [switch]$DryRun, [string]$BackupPath, [string]$ResultsPath,
         [ValidateSet("PreserveOrAudit", "Audit", "Deny")]
-        [string] $OutgoingNtlmMode = "PreserveOrAudit",
-        [switch] $Debug
+        [string]$OutgoingNtlmMode = "PreserveOrAudit"
     )
 
-    if (-not (TestWindows)) {
-        Write-Host "[ERROR] 'configure' changes Windows settings and can only run on Windows." -ForegroundColor Red
-        return
+    if (-not (TestWindows)) { throw "'configure' can only run on Windows." }
+    if (-not (TestAdministrator)) { throw 'This script requires Administrator privileges.' }
+    # Never use the debug cache to decide whether mutating controls are compliant.
+    if ($Debug) { Write-Host 'configure always reads live state; the auditpol debug cache is not used.' -ForegroundColor Yellow }
+    $context = New-WelaConfigurationContext -Auto:$Auto -DryRun:$DryRun -BackupPath $BackupPath
+    if (-not $DryRun) { Write-Host "Recovery journal: $($context.BackupPath)" }
+
+    foreach ($log in @('Security', 'Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational', 'Windows PowerShell')) {
+        Set-WelaEventLogControl -Context $context -Log $log -Property MaximumSizeInBytes -Desired 1073741824
     }
-
-    # 管理者権限の確認
-    if (-not (TestAdministrator)) {
-        Write-Error "This script requires Administrator privileges"
-        exit 1
-    }
-
-    if (-not (CollectAuditpol -UseCached:$Debug)) {
-        return
-    }
-
-    # ログサイズ定数
-    $oneGB = 1073741824
-    $oneTwentyEightMB = 134217728
-
-    # セキュリティおよびPowerShellログを1GBに設定
-    Write-Host "Configuring Event Logs..."
-    Write-Host ""
-    $largeLogs = @(
-        "Security",
-        "Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational",
-        "Windows PowerShell"
-    )
-
-    foreach ($log in $largeLogs) {
-        try {
-            $logInfo = Get-WinEvent -ListLog $log -ErrorAction Stop
-            $currentSize = [math]::Floor($logInfo.MaximumSizeInBytes / 1MB)
-            $newSize = 1024
-            Write-Host "Log: $log"
-            if ($currentSize -ge $newSize) {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $log : Current size ($currentSize MB) is already greater than or equal to $newSize MB." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-                Write-Host ""
-                continue
-            }
-            if ($Auto) {
-                $response = "Y"
-            } else {
-                $response = Read-Host "Your current setting is $currentSize MB. Do you want to change it to 1024 MB? (Y/n)"
-            }
-            if ($response -eq "" -or $response -eq "Y" -or $response -eq "y") {
-                wevtutil sl $log /ms:$oneGB 2>&1 | Out-Null
-                Write-Host "[OK] $log : 1024 MB" -ForegroundColor Green
-            } else {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $log" -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            }
-        }
-        catch {
-            Write-Host "[ERROR] $log : $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-        }
-        Write-Host ""
-    }
-
-    # その他の重要なログを128MBに設定
     $mediumLogs = @(
         "System",
         "Application",
@@ -1335,202 +1312,37 @@ function ConfigureAuditSettings {
     )
 
     foreach ($log in $mediumLogs) {
-        try {
-            $logInfo = Get-WinEvent -ListLog $log -ErrorAction Stop
-            $currentSize = [math]::Floor($logInfo.MaximumSizeInBytes / 1MB)
-            $newSize = 128
-            Write-Host "Log: $log"
-            if ($currentSize -ge $newSize) {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $log : Current size ($currentSize MB) is already greater than or equal to $newSize MB." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-                Write-Host ""
-                continue
-            }
-            if ($Auto) {
-                $response = "Y"
-            } else {
-                $response = Read-Host "Your current setting is $currentSize MB. Do you want to change it to 128 MB? (Y/n)"
-            }
-            if ($response -eq "" -or $response -eq "Y" -or $response -eq "y") {
-                wevtutil sl $log /ms:$oneTwentyEightMB 2>&1 | Out-Null
-                Write-Host "[OK] $log : 128 MB" -ForegroundColor Green
-            } else {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $log" -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            }
-        }
-        catch {
-            Write-Host "[ERROR] $log : $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-        }
-        Write-Host ""
+        Set-WelaEventLogControl -Context $context -Log $log -Property MaximumSizeInBytes -Desired 134217728
+    }
+    foreach ($log in @('Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational', 'Microsoft-Windows-DriverFrameworks-UserMode/Operational', 'Microsoft-Windows-Crypto-DPAPI/Debug')) {
+        Set-WelaEventLogControl -Context $context -Log $log -Property IsEnabled -Desired $true
     }
 
-    # 特定のログの有効化
-    Write-Host "Enabling Event Logs..."
-    Write-Host ""
-    foreach ($log in @("Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational", "Microsoft-Windows-DriverFrameworks-UserMode/Operational", "Microsoft-Windows-Crypto-DPAPI/Debug")) {
-        try {
-            $logInfo = Get-WinEvent -ListLog $log -ErrorAction Stop
-            $currentState = if ($logInfo.IsEnabled) { "Enabled" } else { "Disabled" }
-            $newState = "Enabled"
-            Write-Host "Log: $log"
-            if ($currentState -eq $newState) {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $log : Already Enabled." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-                Write-Host ""
-                continue
-            }
-            if ($Auto) {
-                $response = "Y"
-            } else {
-                $response = Read-Host "Your current setting is $currentState. Do you want to change it to Enabled? (Y/n)"
-            }
-            if ($response -eq "" -or $response -eq "Y" -or $response -eq "y") {
-                wevtutil sl $log /e:true 2>&1 | Out-Null
-                Write-Host "[OK] Enabled: $log" -ForegroundColor Green
-            } else {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $log" -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            }
-        }
-        catch {
-            Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to enable $log : $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-        }
-        Write-Host ""
-    }
-
-    # PowerShell ロギングの設定
-    Write-Host "Configuring PowerShell Logging..."
-    Write-Host ""
-    # 64bit の PowerShell と GPO が読むのは Wow6432Node の無いパス。
-    # 32bit の PowerShell 用に Wow6432Node 側も併せて設定する。
     $regPaths = @()
     foreach ($root in $script:PowerShellPolicyRoots) {
-        $regPaths += @{Path = "$root\ModuleLogging";      Name = "EnableModuleLogging";      Value = 1}
-        $regPaths += @{Path = "$root\ScriptBlockLogging"; Name = "EnableScriptBlockLogging"; Value = 1}
+        $regPaths += @{Path = "$root\ModuleLogging"; Name = 'EnableModuleLogging'; Value = 1}
+        $regPaths += @{Path = "$root\ScriptBlockLogging"; Name = 'EnableScriptBlockLogging'; Value = 1}
     }
-    Set-RegistryConfig -RegPaths $regPaths -Auto:$Auto
-
-    # モジュール名レジストリの設定
+    Set-RegistryConfig -RegPaths $regPaths -Auto:$Auto -Context $context
     foreach ($root in $script:PowerShellPolicyRoots) {
-    try {
-        $moduleLoggingPath = "$root\ModuleLogging\ModuleNames"
-        $currentValue = "Not Set"
-        $pathExists = Test-Path $moduleLoggingPath
-        if ($pathExists) {
-            $prop = Get-ItemProperty -Path $moduleLoggingPath -Name "*" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-            if ($prop) {
-                $currentValue = $prop."*"
-            }
-        }
-        Write-Host "Registry: $moduleLoggingPath"
-        if ($currentValue -eq "*") {
-            Write-Host "[SKIPPED] Module logging : Already set to * (all modules)." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            Write-Host ""
-        } else
-        {
-            if ($Auto)
-            {
-                $response = "Y"
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                $response = Read-Host "Your current setting is $currentValue. Do you want to change it to * (all modules)? (Y/n)"
-            }
-            if ($response -eq "" -or $response -eq "Y" -or $response -eq "y")
-            {
-                if (-not $pathExists)
-                {
-                    New-Item -Path $moduleLoggingPath -Force | Out-Null
-                }
-                Set-ItemProperty -Path $moduleLoggingPath -Name "*" -Value "*" -Type String
-                Write-Host "[OK] Module logging enabled for all modules" -ForegroundColor Green
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] Module logging" -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            }
-        }
-    }
-    catch {
-        Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to configure module names: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-    }
-    Write-Host ""
+        Set-WelaRegistryControl -Context $context -Path "$root\ModuleLogging\ModuleNames" -Name '*' -Value '*' -Type String
     }
+    Set-WelaRegistryControl -Context $context -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Audit' `
+        -Name ProcessCreationIncludeCmdLine_Enabled -Value 1
 
-    # コマンドライン監査の有効化
-    Write-Host "Enabling Command Line Auditing..."
-    Write-Host ""
-    $regPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Audit"
-    $valueName = "ProcessCreationIncludeCmdLine_Enabled"
-    try {
-        $currentValue = "Not Set"
-        if (Test-Path $regPath) {
-            $prop = Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name $valueName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-            $currentValue = $prop.$valueName
-        }
-        Write-Host "Registry: $regPath"
-        if ($currentValue -eq 1) {
-            Write-Host "[SKIPPED] Command Line Auditing : Already Enabled." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            Write-Host ""
-        } else
-        {
-            if ($Auto)
-            {
-                $response = "Y"
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                $response = Read-Host "Your current setting is $currentValue. Do you want to change it to 1 (Enabled)? (Y/n)"
-            }
-            if ($response -eq "" -or $response -eq "Y" -or $response -eq "y")
-            {
-                $regPath = $regPath -replace "HKLM:", "HKLM"
-                $arguments = "add $regPath /v $valueName /f /t REG_DWORD /d 1"
-                $process = Start-Process -FilePath "reg.exe" -ArgumentList $arguments -Wait -PassThru -NoNewWindow -RedirectStandardOutput "NUL"
-                if ($process.ExitCode -eq 0)
-                {
-                    Write-Host "[OK] Command line auditing enabled" -ForegroundColor Green
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    Write-Host "[ERROR] Command line auditing failed (ExitCode: $( $process.ExitCode ))" -ForegroundColor Red
-                }
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                Write-Host "[SKIPPED] Command line auditing" -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            }
-        }
-    }
-    catch {
-        Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to check command line auditing: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-    }
-    Write-Host ""
-
-    # Outgoing restriction and audit-only modes must be selected independently.
-    Set-WelaOutgoingNtlmPolicy -Mode $OutgoingNtlmMode -Auto:$Auto
-
-    # NTLM認証の監査設定
-    Write-Host "Configuring NTLM Audit Settings..."
-    Write-Host ""
+    # NTLM audit/restriction decisions share the recovery and verification context.
+    Set-WelaOutgoingNtlmPolicy -Mode $OutgoingNtlmMode -Auto:$Auto -Context $context
     $regPaths = @(
         @{Path = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\MSV1_0"; Name = "AuditReceivingNTLMTraffic"; Value = 2}
     )
-    Set-RegistryConfig -RegPaths $regPaths -Auto:$Auto
-
-    Set-WelaDomainNtlmAudit -Auto:$Auto
-
-    # LDAP query logging (Directory Service EventID 1644) - domain controllers only.
-    # "15 Field Engineering" = 5 makes expensive / inefficient LDAP searches log as 1644, which surfaces
-    # BloodHound / SharpHound-style directory reconnaissance. Only applied where the NTDS role is present.
-    if (Test-Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters") {
-        Write-Host "Configuring LDAP query logging (1644) on this domain controller..."
-        Write-Host ""
+    Set-RegistryConfig -RegPaths $regPaths -Auto:$Auto -Context $context
+    Set-WelaDomainNtlmAudit -Auto:$Auto -Context $context
+    if (Test-Path 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Parameters') {
         Set-RegistryConfig -RegPaths @(
-            @{Path = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Diagnostics"; Name = "15 Field Engineering"; Value = 5}
-        ) -Auto:$Auto
+            @{Path = 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NTDS\Diagnostics'; Name = '15 Field Engineering'; Value = 5}
+        ) -Auto:$Auto -Context $context
     }
 
-    # 監査ポリシーの設定
-    Write-Host "Configuring Audit Policies..."
-    Write-Host ""
     $auditPolicies = @(
         @{Category = "Account Logon"; Name = "Credential Validation"; GUID = "0CCE923F-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030"},
         @{Category = "Account Logon"; Name = "Kerberos Authentication Service"; GUID = "0CCE9242-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030"},
@@ -1568,112 +1380,11 @@ function ConfigureAuditSettings {
         @{Category = "System"; Name = "Other System Events"; GUID = "0CCE9214-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030"}
     )
 
-    $currentAuditPol = GetAuditpol
-
-    foreach ($policy in $auditPolicies)
-    {
-        $newSetting = "Success and Failure"
-        $currentSetting = if ($currentAuditPol.ContainsKey($policy.GUID))
-        {
-            $currentAuditPol[$policy.GUID]
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            "Unknown"
-        }
-
-        Write-Host "Audit Policy: $( $policy.Category ) - $( $policy.Name )"
-        if ($currentSetting -eq $newSetting)
-        {
-            Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $( $policy.Category ) - $( $policy.Name ) : Already set to $newSetting." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-            Write-Host ""
-            continue
-        }
-        if ($Auto) {
-            $response = "Y"
-        } else {
-            $response = Read-Host "Your current setting is $currentSetting. Do you want to change it to $newSetting? (Y/n)"
-        }
-        if ($response -eq "" -or $response -eq "Y" -or $response -eq "y") {
-            $arguments = "/set /subcategory:{$($policy.GUID)} /success:enable /failure:enable"
-            $process = Start-Process -FilePath "auditpol.exe" -ArgumentList $arguments -Wait -PassThru -NoNewWindow -RedirectStandardOutput "NUL"
-
-            if ($process.ExitCode -eq 0) {
-                Write-Host "[OK] $($policy.Category) - $($policy.Name)" -ForegroundColor Green
-            }
-            else {
-                Write-Host "[ERROR] $($policy.Category) - $($policy.Name) (ExitCode: $($process.ExitCode))" -ForegroundColor Red
-            }
-        } else {
-            Write-Host "[SKIPPED] $($policy.Category) - $($policy.Name)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
-        }
-        Write-Host ""
+    foreach ($policy in $auditPolicies) {
+        Set-WelaAuditPolicyControl -Context $context -Policy $policy
     }
-
-    # AD CS AuditFilter の設定
-    Write-Host "Configuring AD CS Audit Settings..."
-    try {
-        $installed = (Get-WindowsFeature -Name AD-Certificate).InstallState -eq "Installed"
-    } catch {
-        $installed = $false
-    }
-
-    if ($installed) {
-        try {
-            $csRootKey = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\"
-            $caName = (Get-ItemProperty $csRootKey -ErrorAction Stop).Active
-            $regPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration\$caName"
-            $prop = Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AuditFilter" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-            $currentValue = if ($null -ne $prop) { [int]$prop.AuditFilter } else { "Not Set" }
-            if ($currentValue -eq 127) {
-                Write-Host "[OK] AuditFilter is already 127" -ForegroundColor Green
-            }
-            else {
-                $proceed = $false
-                if ($Auto) {
-                    $proceed = $true
-                }
-                else {
-                    $response = Read-Host "Do you want to set AuditFilter to 127 and restart Certificate Services? (Y/n)"
-                    $proceed = ($response -eq "" -or $response -match "^[Yy]$")
-                }
-
-                if ($proceed) {
-                    try {
-                        # AuditFilter の設定
-                        & certutil.exe -setreg "CA\AuditFilter" 127 >$null 2>&1
-                        # 証明書サービスの再起動
-                        Restart-Service -Name "CertSvc" -Force -ErrorAction Stop
-                        # 反映確認
-                        $propAfter = Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "AuditFilter" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-                        $newValue = if ($null -ne $propAfter) { [int]$propAfter.AuditFilter } else { $null }
-
-                        if ($newValue -eq 127) {
-                            Write-Host "[OK] AuditFilter set to 127 and CertSvc restarted" -ForegroundColor Green
-                        }
-                        else {
-                            Write-Host "[ERROR] AuditFilter did not apply as expected (current: $newValue)" -ForegroundColor Red
-                        }
-                    }
-                    catch {
-                        Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to set AuditFilter or restart CertSvc: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-                    }
-                }
-                else {
-                    Write-Host "[SKIP] No changes applied to AuditFilter"
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        catch {
-            Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to process AD CS audit settings: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
-        }
-    }
-    else {
-        Write-Host "[INFO] AD Certificate Services is not installed. Skipping." -ForegroundColor Yellow
-    }
-    Write-Host ""
-
-    Write-Host "Configuration completed successfully" -ForegroundColor Green
+    Set-WelaCertificateAuditControl -Context $context
+    Complete-WelaConfiguration -Context $context -ResultsPath $ResultsPath
 }
 
 $logo = @"
@@ -1992,11 +1703,14 @@ switch ($Cmd.ToLower()) {
         if ($Help){
             Write-Host "Configure Windows Event Log audit settings based on the YamatoSecurity baseline"
             Write-Host ""
-            Write-Host "Usage: ./WELA.ps1 configure [-Auto] [-OutgoingNtlmMode <PreserveOrAudit|Audit|Deny>]"
+            Write-Host "Usage: ./WELA.ps1 configure [-Auto] [-DryRun] [-BackupPath <new-directory>] [-ResultsPath <json-file>] [-OutgoingNtlmMode <PreserveOrAudit|Audit|Deny>]"
             Write-Host ""
             Write-Host "Options:"
             Write-Host "  -Auto        Automatically configure without prompts"
             Write-Host "  -OutgoingNtlmMode  PreserveOrAudit (default): audit, preserving existing deny; Audit: explicitly replace deny; Deny: opt into enforcement"
+            Write-Host "  -DryRun      Read live state and report proposed changes without writing Windows settings"
+            Write-Host "  -BackupPath  New directory for the pre-change recovery journal (unique default beside WELA)"
+            Write-Host "  -ResultsPath Save structured per-control outcomes as JSON"
             Write-Host ""
             Write-Host "Note: only the YamatoSecurity baseline is currently supported for 'configure'."
             Write-Host ""
@@ -2007,7 +1721,14 @@ switch ($Cmd.ToLower()) {
             Write-Host "Re-run with '-Baseline YamatoSecurity' (or omit -Baseline) if that is what you want."
             break
         }
-        ConfigureAuditSettings -Auto:$Auto -Debug:$Debug -OutgoingNtlmMode $OutgoingNtlmMode
+        try {
+            $report = ConfigureAuditSettings -Auto:$Auto -Debug:$Debug -DryRun:$DryRun -BackupPath $BackupPath -ResultsPath $ResultsPath -OutgoingNtlmMode $OutgoingNtlmMode
+            $report
+            if ($report.ExitCode -ne 0) { exit $report.ExitCode }
+        } catch {
+            Write-Host "[Failed] Configuration aborted: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
+            exit 1
+        }
     }
 
     "configure-sacl" {
diff --git a/docs/configuration-results.md b/docs/configuration-results.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..419cf112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/configuration-results.md
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+# Verified configuration and recovery
+
+`configure` reads live state, records each proposed write before executing it,
+checks native exit codes, and reads the resulting state. It returns an object with
+`ExitCode`, `DryRun`, `BackupPath`, `Failed`, `Skipped`, and a `Results` array.
+`-ResultsPath` also saves that object as JSON. The command exits with status 1 when
+any control fails or changes again before the final verification. A fatal preflight
+or result-file error also exits with status 1.
+
+```powershell
+# Read live settings; do not change Windows settings, restart services or create a journal.
+.\WELA.ps1 configure -DryRun -ResultsPath .\proposed-results.json
+
+# Apply with interactive approval for each change, including the CA restart.
+.\WELA.ps1 configure -BackupPath C:\WELA-Recovery\run-001 -ResultsPath .\results.json
+
+# Apply the existing WELA choices without individual prompts.
+.\WELA.ps1 configure -Auto -ResultsPath .\results.json
+```
+
+Keep the complete WELA directory, including `scripts/Configuration.ps1`. Choose a
+recovery path whose parent directory is writable only by the operators who manage
+these settings. The backup directory must not already exist. Without `-BackupPath`,
+a unique directory is created beside WELA. `-Debug` does not substitute cached
+audit policy data during configuration. `-DryRun` may write the explicitly requested
+result file, but performs no Windows configuration writes.
+
+| Status | Meaning |
+| --- | --- |
+| Applied | Write succeeded and immediate read-back matched. |
+| AlreadyCompliant | The initial live value already met the requirement; no write. |
+| Skipped | Dry run, operator decline, or no configured local CA. |
+| Failed | State could not be read, journaling failed, write/restart failed, or verification failed. |
+| Overridden | A value verified earlier became noncompliant by the final read. Cause is unknown. |
+
+Unknown and unavailable channels are reported as failed observations rather than
+silently claiming that logging is enabled. Partial runs and runs with skipped
+controls do not claim universal success. Verification is an observation at that
+moment; it does not prove future GPO persistence, event production, collection or
+Sigma rule coverage. A zero exit code with skipped controls is not full compliance.
+
+Audit policy reads use GUIDs and numeric flags from the Windows
+[AuditQuerySystemPolicy API](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/ntsecapi/nf-ntsecapi-auditquerysystempolicy).
+`auditpol /get /r` contains localized labels and no numeric setting column; it is
+not parsed as though it were `auditpol /backup` output. Registry writes use terminating errors and verify
+both the value and registry type. Log sizes retain larger existing buffers. A CA
+is detected from its configured registry state; certutil must succeed before a
+restart is attempted, and the restart must return to Running. A stopped CA is not
+started automatically. A restart failure remains failed even if the registry value
+was already written.
+
+## Recovery journal and rollback design
+
+Each line of `before.jsonl` records the computer, timestamp, control identity,
+requested setting and exact pre-change state. Registry entries include whether the
+key/value existed and the previous registry type. Event-log entries capture size or
+enabled state; audit policies capture the numeric mask; CA entries also capture
+service state. A journal write failure prevents that control's mutation. The
+journal is per control, not a full system backup, and can contain records for failed
+or declined downstream actions. Save the final result file alongside it.
+
+This change provides a guarded **manual recovery procedure**, not an automatic
+rollback command. Automatic bulk rollback could overwrite a later administrator or
+GPO change and could interrupt certificate services. Before recovery:
+
+1. Use an elevated shell on the journal's recorded computer. Review the specific
+   failed or applied control and capture its current live state.
+2. Compare current state with the recorded requested/verified after-state. If it
+   differs, stop and determine whether another writer made an intentional change.
+   Do not blindly replay a journal or restore an entire audit policy backup.
+3. Restore only the intended controls, normally in reverse application order:
+   - **EventLog:** `wevtutil sl <log> /ms:<previous-bytes>` or `/e:<previous-bool>`.
+     Review shrinking buffers or disabling a channel before proceeding.
+   - **AuditPolicy:** `auditpol /set /subcategory:{<guid>} /success:<enable|disable>
+     /failure:<enable|disable>`. Previous mask bit 1 means success, bit 2 means
+     failure. Restore that subcategory, not unrelated policy.
+   - **Registry:** restore the previous value using its recorded registry type.
+     If the value did not exist, remove only that value. Preserve unrelated values
+     and never recursively delete a newly created parent key. Binary and multistring
+     old values must be reconstructed with their original types from the JSON.
+   - **CertificateService:** restore the active CA's previous AuditFilter value (or
+     its original absence) and separately approve the necessary service restart.
+     Do not start a CA that was deliberately stopped. A failed restart can leave
+     the registry and running service out of sync; an operator must resolve this.
+4. Check every native exit code and read the restored state. Keep the recovery
+   commands and observations with the original journal.
+
+A future automated rollback command should require the same host and control
+identity, validate journal schema and allowlisted types, check current state against
+recorded after-state, refuse unexpected drift, journal recovery itself, and require
+explicit approval for CA restarts. It should never import the whole registry or
+force a Group Policy setting. These are design constraints, not implemented claims.
+
+## Testing
+
+`tests/Test-ConfigurationResults.ps1` uses mock Windows APIs and disposable temp
+journals. It exercises nonzero native exits and stderr, false-success writes,
+read-back, idempotence, final drift, dry runs, journal failure, locale-independent native audit flags, and CA write/restart failure. It does not change Windows settings.
+`tests/Test-ConfigurationReadOnlyWindows.ps1` runs real read-only Windows audit-policy API and `auditpol /get` queries
+and a child `cmd.exe` diagnostic/exit test. CI runs both scripts in Windows PowerShell
+5.1 and PowerShell 7. Mutating behavior still requires isolated Windows/CA lab
+validation; mock and read-only tests do not establish end-to-end event production.
diff --git a/scripts/Configuration.ps1 b/scripts/Configuration.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..07102399
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/Configuration.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,329 @@
+# Execution helpers for configure. Compatible with Windows PowerShell 5.1.
+function Invoke-WelaNative {
+    param([string]$FilePath, [string[]]$Arguments)
+    # Windows PowerShell sends native stderr through the error stream. Collect it
+    # without treating stderr alone as failure; the process exit code is decisive.
+    $ErrorActionPreference = 'Continue'
+    $PSNativeCommandUseErrorActionPreference = $false
+    $null = Get-Command $FilePath -ErrorAction Stop
+    $global:LASTEXITCODE = $null
+    $output = @(& $FilePath @Arguments 2>&1)
+    $exitCode = $global:LASTEXITCODE # Capture immediately, before invoking anything else.
+    $diagnostic = ($output | ForEach-Object { $_.ToString() }) -join [Environment]::NewLine
+    if ($null -eq $exitCode -or $exitCode -ne 0) {
+        throw "$FilePath $($Arguments -join ' ') failed (exit: $exitCode). $diagnostic"
+    }
+    [pscustomobject]@{ ExitCode = $exitCode; Output = $output; Diagnostic = $diagnostic }
+}
+
+function New-WelaConfigurationContext {
+    param([switch]$Auto, [switch]$DryRun, [string]$BackupPath)
+    if (-not $DryRun) {
+        if (-not $BackupPath) {
+            $BackupPath = Join-Path $script:ScriptRoot ("wela-backup-{0}-{1}" -f (Get-Date -Format 'yyyyMMdd-HHmmss'), [guid]::NewGuid().ToString('N'))
+        }
+        # Refuse reuse: a prior run's recovery evidence must never be overwritten.
+        $null = New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $BackupPath -ErrorAction Stop
+        $BackupPath = (Resolve-Path -LiteralPath $BackupPath -ErrorAction Stop).Path
+    }
+    [pscustomobject]@{
+        Auto = [bool]$Auto; DryRun = [bool]$DryRun; BackupPath = $BackupPath
+        Results = New-Object 'System.Collections.Generic.List[object]'
+        Checks = New-Object 'System.Collections.Generic.List[object]'
+    }
+}
+
+function Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl {
+    param($Context, [string]$Id, [string]$Kind, $Target, $Desired,
+          [scriptblock]$Read, [scriptblock]$Compliant, [scriptblock]$Apply,
+          [string]$Description = '')
+    $result = [pscustomobject][ordered]@{
+        Id = $Id; Kind = $Kind; Target = $Target; Desired = $Desired
+        Before = $null; After = $null; Status = 'Failed'; Diagnostic = ''
+    }
+    try {
+        $result.Before = & $Read
+        if (& $Compliant $result.Before) {
+            $result.Status = 'AlreadyCompliant'
+            $result.After = $result.Before
+        } elseif ($Context.DryRun) {
+            $result.Status = 'Skipped'; $result.Diagnostic = 'Dry run: change required; no write or restart performed.'
+        } else {
+            $proceed = $Context.Auto
+            if (-not $proceed) {
+                $response = Read-Host "$Id : $Description Apply this change? (Y/n)"
+                $proceed = ($response -eq '' -or $response -match '^[Yy]$')
+            }
+            if (-not $proceed) {
+                $result.Status = 'Skipped'; $result.Diagnostic = 'Declined by operator.'
+            } else {
+                # Persist the exact pre-change value before any mutation. A journal
+                # failure stops this control, including service restarts.
+                $entry = [ordered]@{
+                    Version = 1; ComputerName = $env:COMPUTERNAME
+                    RecordedUtc = [DateTime]::UtcNow.ToString('o')
+                    Id = $Id; Kind = $Kind; Target = $Target
+                    Before = $result.Before; Desired = $Desired
+                }
+                $entry | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 12 -Compress |
+                    Add-Content -LiteralPath (Join-Path $Context.BackupPath 'before.jsonl') -Encoding UTF8 -ErrorAction Stop
+                $applied = @(& $Apply)
+                $result.Diagnostic = ($applied | ForEach-Object {
+                    if ($_.PSObject.Properties['Diagnostic']) { $_.Diagnostic } else { $_.ToString() }
+                }) -join [Environment]::NewLine
+                $result.After = & $Read
+                if (-not (& $Compliant $result.After)) {
+                    throw "Post-apply verification did not match the requested state. $($result.Diagnostic)"
+                }
+                $result.Status = 'Applied'
+            }
+        }
+        if ($result.Status -in @('Applied', 'AlreadyCompliant')) {
+            $Context.Checks.Add([pscustomobject]@{ Result = $result; Read = $Read; Compliant = $Compliant })
+        }
+    } catch {
+        $result.Status = 'Failed'; $result.Diagnostic = $_.ToString()
+    }
+    $Context.Results.Add($result)
+    $color = if ($result.Status -eq 'Failed') { 'Red' } elseif ($result.Status -eq 'Skipped') { 'Yellow' } else { 'Green' }
+    Write-Host "[$($result.Status)] $Id $($result.Diagnostic)" -ForegroundColor $color
+}
+
+function Complete-WelaConfiguration {
+    param($Context, [string]$ResultsPath)
+    # A second read detects a value that was compliant earlier but changed during
+    # this run. It does not establish whether GPO or another writer caused drift.
+    foreach ($check in $Context.Checks) {
+        try {
+            $check.Result.After = & $check.Read
+            if (-not (& $check.Compliant $check.Result.After)) {
+                $check.Result.Status = 'Overridden'
+                $check.Result.Diagnostic = 'State was compliant earlier but changed before the final check; cause unknown.'
+            }
+        } catch {
+            $check.Result.Status = 'Failed'
+            $check.Result.Diagnostic = "Final verification failed: $_"
+        }
+    }
+    $failed = @($Context.Results | Where-Object { $_.Status -in @('Failed', 'Overridden') }).Count
+    $skipped = @($Context.Results | Where-Object { $_.Status -eq 'Skipped' }).Count
+    $report = [pscustomobject][ordered]@{
+        ExitCode = $(if ($failed) { 1 } else { 0 }); DryRun = $Context.DryRun
+        BackupPath = $Context.BackupPath; Failed = $failed; Skipped = $skipped
+        Results = @($Context.Results.ToArray())
+    }
+    if ($ResultsPath) {
+        try { $report | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 12 | Set-Content -LiteralPath $ResultsPath -Encoding UTF8 -ErrorAction Stop }
+        catch { $report.ExitCode = 1; Write-Host "[Failed] Writing results: $_" -ForegroundColor Red }
+    }
+    if ($report.ExitCode) { Write-Host "Configuration incomplete: $failed failed or overridden control(s). Review results and recovery journal." -ForegroundColor Red }
+    elseif ($Context.DryRun) { Write-Host 'Dry run completed. No Windows configuration was changed.' -ForegroundColor Cyan }
+    elseif ($skipped) { Write-Host "Configuration completed with $skipped skipped control(s)." -ForegroundColor Yellow }
+    else { Write-Host 'Configuration completed; all requested controls verified.' -ForegroundColor Green }
+    return $report
+}
+
+function Set-WelaEventLogControl {
+    param($Context, [string]$Log, [string]$Property, $Desired)
+    $read = { (Get-WinEvent -ListLog $Log -ErrorAction Stop).$Property }.GetNewClosure()
+    $test = if ($Property -eq 'MaximumSizeInBytes') {
+        { param($value) $value -ge $Desired }.GetNewClosure()
+    } else { { param($value) $value -eq $Desired }.GetNewClosure() }
+    $argument = if ($Property -eq 'MaximumSizeInBytes') { "/ms:$Desired" } else { '/e:true' }
+    $apply = { Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath 'wevtutil.exe' -Arguments @('sl', $Log, $argument) }.GetNewClosure()
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl -Context $Context -Id "EventLog/$Log/$Property" -Kind EventLog `
+        -Target @{ Log = $Log; Property = $Property } -Desired $Desired -Read $read -Compliant $test -Apply $apply
+}
+
+function Get-WelaRegistryState {
+    param([string]$Path, [string]$Name)
+    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop)) {
+        return [pscustomobject]@{ KeyExists = $false; ValueExists = $false; Value = $null; Type = $null }
+    }
+    $key = Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop
+    if ($key.GetValueNames() -notcontains $Name) {
+        return [pscustomobject]@{ KeyExists = $true; ValueExists = $false; Value = $null; Type = $null }
+    }
+    [pscustomobject]@{
+        KeyExists = $true; ValueExists = $true
+        Value = $key.GetValue($Name, $null, [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryValueOptions]::DoNotExpandEnvironmentNames)
+        Type = $key.GetValueKind($Name).ToString()
+    }
+}
+
+function New-WelaRegistryKey {
+    param([string]$Path)
+    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop) { return }
+    $separator = $Path.TrimEnd('\').LastIndexOf('\')
+    if ($separator -lt 1) { throw "Registry root is unavailable: $Path" }
+    $parent = $Path.Substring(0, $separator)
+    # Registry New-Item without Force requires its immediate parent. Build only
+    # missing ancestors; never run New-Item -Force against an existing key.
+    New-WelaRegistryKey -Path $parent
+    $null = New-Item -Path $Path -ErrorAction Stop
+}
+
+function Set-WelaRegistryControl {
+    param($Context, [string]$Path, [string]$Name, $Value, [string]$Type = 'DWord')
+    $read = { Get-WelaRegistryState -Path $Path -Name $Name }.GetNewClosure()
+    $test = { param($state) $state.ValueExists -and $state.Value -eq $Value -and $state.Type -eq $Type }.GetNewClosure()
+    $apply = {
+        New-WelaRegistryKey -Path $Path
+        Set-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Value $Value -Type $Type -ErrorAction Stop
+    }.GetNewClosure()
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl -Context $Context -Id "Registry/$Path/$Name" -Kind Registry `
+        -Target @{ Path = $Path; Name = $Name } -Desired @{ Value = $Value; Type = $Type } `
+        -Read $read -Compliant $test -Apply $apply
+}
+
+function Initialize-WelaConfigurationAuditApi {
+    if ('Wela.ConfigurationAuditApi' -as [type]) { return }
+    # Querying the Windows API avoids localized auditpol /get CSV (six columns;
+    # unlike /backup output, it has no numeric Setting Value column).
+    Add-Type -TypeDefinition @'
+using System;
+using System.ComponentModel;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+namespace Wela {
+    public static class ConfigurationAuditApi {
+        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+        private struct AuditPolicyInformation {
+            public Guid Subcategory;
+            public UInt32 Information;
+            public Guid Category;
+        }
+        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U1)]
+        private static extern bool AuditQuerySystemPolicy(
+            [In] Guid[] subcategories, UInt32 count, out IntPtr policy);
+        [DllImport("advapi32.dll")]
+        private static extern void AuditFree(IntPtr buffer);
+        public static UInt32 Query(Guid subcategory) {
+            IntPtr buffer = IntPtr.Zero;
+            if (!AuditQuerySystemPolicy(new Guid[] { subcategory }, 1, out buffer)) {
+                throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
+            }
+            try {
+                if (buffer == IntPtr.Zero) throw new InvalidOperationException("Audit policy query returned no buffer.");
+                AuditPolicyInformation policy = (AuditPolicyInformation)Marshal.PtrToStructure(buffer, typeof(AuditPolicyInformation));
+                if (policy.Subcategory != subcategory) throw new InvalidOperationException("Audit policy query returned a different subcategory.");
+                return policy.Information;
+            } finally {
+                if (buffer != IntPtr.Zero) AuditFree(buffer);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+'@ -ErrorAction Stop
+}
+
+function Get-WelaNativeAuditPolicy {
+    param([string]$Guid)
+    Initialize-WelaConfigurationAuditApi
+    return [Wela.ConfigurationAuditApi]::Query([guid]$Guid)
+}
+
+function Get-WelaAuditPolicyMask {
+    param([string]$Guid)
+    $flags = Get-WelaNativeAuditPolicy -Guid $Guid
+    if ($flags -notin @(0, 1, 2, 3, 4)) { throw "Unexpected audit policy flags $flags for $Guid." }
+    # POLICY_AUDIT_EVENT_NONE is 4; the success/failure mask is zero.
+    return [int]($flags -band 3)
+}
+
+function Set-WelaAuditPolicyControl {
+    param($Context, $Policy)
+    $guid = $Policy.GUID
+    $read = { Get-WelaAuditPolicyMask -Guid $guid }.GetNewClosure()
+    $apply = { Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath 'auditpol.exe' -Arguments @('/set', "/subcategory:{$guid}", '/success:enable', '/failure:enable') }.GetNewClosure()
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl -Context $Context -Id "AuditPolicy/$($Policy.Name)" -Kind AuditPolicy `
+        -Target @{ Guid = $guid } -Desired 3 -Read $read -Compliant { param($value) $value -eq 3 } -Apply $apply
+}
+
+function Set-WelaCertificateAuditControl {
+    param($Context)
+    $root = 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc\Configuration'
+    try {
+        if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $root -ErrorAction Stop)) {
+            $Context.Results.Add([pscustomobject]@{ Id = 'ADCS/AuditFilter'; Kind = 'CertificateService'; Target = $root; Desired = 127; Before = $null; After = $null; Status = 'Skipped'; Diagnostic = 'No configured local CA.' })
+            return
+        }
+        $caName = (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $root -Name Active -ErrorAction Stop).Active
+        if (-not $caName) { throw 'CA configuration has no active CA name.' }
+        $path = Join-Path $root $caName
+        $read = {
+            [pscustomobject]@{
+                Registry = Get-WelaRegistryState -Path $path -Name AuditFilter
+                ServiceStatus = (Get-Service -Name CertSvc -ErrorAction Stop).Status.ToString()
+            }
+        }.GetNewClosure()
+        $test = { param($value) $value.Registry.ValueExists -and $value.Registry.Value -eq 127 -and $value.Registry.Type -eq 'DWord' -and $value.ServiceStatus -eq 'Running' }
+        $apply = {
+            $state = Get-Service -Name CertSvc -ErrorAction Stop
+            if ($state.Status -ne 'Running') { throw 'CertSvc is not running; refusing to start a previously stopped CA. Start it deliberately before retrying.' }
+            Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath 'certutil.exe' -Arguments @('-setreg', 'CA\AuditFilter', '127')
+            Restart-Service -Name CertSvc -Force -ErrorAction Stop
+            $service = Get-Service -Name CertSvc -ErrorAction Stop
+            $service.WaitForStatus([System.ServiceProcess.ServiceControllerStatus]::Running, [TimeSpan]::FromSeconds(30))
+        }
+        Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl -Context $Context -Id 'ADCS/AuditFilter' -Kind CertificateService `
+            -Target @{ Path = $path; Name = 'AuditFilter'; Service = 'CertSvc' } -Desired 127 `
+            -Read $read -Compliant $test -Apply $apply -Description 'Set AuditFilter=127 and restart Certificate Services.'
+    } catch {
+        $Context.Results.Add([pscustomobject]@{ Id = 'ADCS/AuditFilter'; Kind = 'CertificateService'; Target = $root; Desired = 127; Before = $null; After = $null; Status = 'Failed'; Diagnostic = $_.ToString() })
+    }
+}
+
+function Set-WelaNtlmConfigurationControl {
+    [CmdletBinding(SupportsShouldProcess = $true)]
+    param(
+        $Context,
+        [ValidateSet('Outgoing', 'Domain')][string]$Scope,
+        [ValidateSet('PreserveOrAudit', 'Audit', 'Deny')][string]$Mode = 'PreserveOrAudit'
+    )
+    $path = if ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing') { 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\MSV1_0' } else { 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters' }
+    $name = if ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing') { 'RestrictSendingNTLMTraffic' } else { 'AuditNTLMInDomain' }
+    $desired = if ($Scope -eq 'Domain') { 7 } elseif ($Mode -eq 'Deny') { 2 } else { 1 }
+    $id = "Registry/$path/$name"
+    $state = $null
+    $skipReason = ''
+    $status = 'Skipped'
+    try {
+        $state = if ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing') { Get-WelaOutgoingNtlmState } else { Get-WelaDomainNtlmState }
+        Write-Host "$Scope NTLM: $($state.Description)"
+        if ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing') { Write-Host "Policy source: $($state.PolicySource)" }
+        if ($Scope -eq 'Domain' -and -not $state.Applicable) {
+            if ($state.Description -notlike 'Not applicable*') { throw "Domain NTLM applicability is unknown: $($state.Description)" }
+            $skipReason = $state.Description
+        } elseif (-not $state.Readable) {
+            throw "$Scope NTLM current state could not be read: $($state.Description)"
+        } elseif ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing' -and $Mode -eq 'PreserveOrAudit' -and $state.Value -eq 2) {
+            $skipReason = 'Preserved existing Deny all enforcement (2); use -OutgoingNtlmMode Audit to explicitly replace it.'
+        } elseif ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing' -and $Mode -eq 'PreserveOrAudit' -and $null -ne $state.Value -and $state.Value -notin @(0, 1, 2)) {
+            $skipReason = "Preserved unknown outgoing NTLM value ($($state.Value)); select an explicit mode after policy review."
+        }
+        if (-not $skipReason) {
+            if ($Scope -eq 'Outgoing' -and $Mode -eq 'Deny') {
+                Write-Warning 'Explicit Deny mode can break NTLM authentication. This is enforcement, not audit-only configuration.'
+            }
+            if (-not $PSCmdlet.ShouldProcess($id, "Set $Scope NTLM policy to $desired")) {
+                $skipReason = 'ShouldProcess declined the NTLM change.'
+            } else {
+                # Shared runner owns prompts, dry-run suppression, exact registry
+                # before-state journal, type/value read-back and final drift check.
+                Set-WelaRegistryControl -Context $Context -Path $path -Name $name -Value $desired
+                return
+            }
+        }
+    } catch {
+        $status = 'Failed'
+        $skipReason = $_.ToString()
+    }
+    $Context.Results.Add([pscustomobject][ordered]@{
+        Id = $id; Kind = 'Registry'; Target = @{ Path = $path; Name = $name }
+        Desired = @{ Value = $desired; Type = 'DWord' }; Before = $state; After = $state
+        Status = $status; Diagnostic = $skipReason
+    })
+    $color = if ($status -eq 'Failed') { 'Red' } else { 'Yellow' }
+    Write-Host "[$status] $id $skipReason" -ForegroundColor $color
+}
diff --git a/tests/Test-ConfigurationReadOnlyWindows.ps1 b/tests/Test-ConfigurationReadOnlyWindows.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..87597fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Test-ConfigurationReadOnlyWindows.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Read-only smoke test of real Windows commands, independent of the mock suite.
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+if ($env:OS -ne 'Windows_NT') { throw 'Run this smoke test on Windows.' }
+. (Join-Path (Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent) 'scripts/Configuration.ps1')
+$mask = Get-WelaAuditPolicyMask '0CCE922B-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030'
+if ($mask -notin @(0, 1, 2, 3)) { throw "Unexpected process-creation audit mask: $mask" }
+# Also exercise the real read-only auditpol command and its native exit status.
+$csv = Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath auditpol.exe -Arguments @('/get', '/subcategory:{0CCE922B-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030}', '/r')
+if ($csv.Diagnostic -notmatch '0CCE922B-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030') { throw 'auditpol query returned no requested subcategory.' }
+$caught = ''
+try { Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath $env:ComSpec -Arguments @('/d', '/c', 'echo WELA-smoke-diagnostic 1>&2 & exit /b 9') }
+catch { $caught = $_.ToString() }
+if ($caught -notmatch 'exit: 9' -or $caught -notmatch 'WELA-smoke-diagnostic') {
+    throw "Native exit/stderr capture failed: $caught"
+}
+Write-Host "Read-only Windows smoke checks passed (process creation audit mask: $mask). No Windows settings changed."
diff --git a/tests/Test-ConfigurationResults.ps1 b/tests/Test-ConfigurationResults.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f7b7b954
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Test-ConfigurationResults.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+# No Windows settings are changed. Run with powershell.exe 5.1 or pwsh.
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+$repo = Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent
+$script:ScriptRoot = $repo
+# Load trusted source functions into the same scope as the mocks. Windows
+# PowerShell 5.1 otherwise resolves a script-local original ahead of global mocks.
+$definitions = Get-Content -LiteralPath (Join-Path $repo 'scripts/Configuration.ps1') -Raw
+Invoke-Expression ($definitions -replace '(?m)^function ', 'function global:')
+$script:passed = 0
+function Assert($Condition, [string]$Message) {
+    if (-not $Condition) { throw "FAIL: $Message" }
+    $script:passed++
+}
+function New-TestContext([switch]$DryRun) {
+    $path = Join-Path ([IO.Path]::GetTempPath()) ('wela-results-test-' + [guid]::NewGuid().ToString('N'))
+    if (-not $DryRun) { $script:cleanup.Add($path) }
+    New-WelaConfigurationContext -Auto -DryRun:$DryRun -BackupPath $path
+}
+$script:cleanup = New-Object 'System.Collections.Generic.List[string]'
+try {
+    foreach ($path in @('WELA.ps1', 'scripts/Configuration.ps1')) {
+        $parseErrors = $null; $tokens = $null
+        $null = [Management.Automation.Language.Parser]::ParseFile((Join-Path $repo $path), [ref]$tokens, [ref]$parseErrors)
+        Assert ($parseErrors.Count -eq 0) "Parser accepts $path"
+    }
+
+    # An actual child process exercises exit capture and stderr retention. The
+    # child only emits text and exits; it never calls Windows configuration tools.
+    $engine = (Get-Process -Id $PID).Path
+    $caught = ''
+    try { Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath $engine -Arguments @('-NoProfile', '-Command', "[Console]::Error.WriteLine('injected native diagnostic'); exit 7") }
+    catch { $caught = $_.ToString() }
+    Assert ($caught -match 'exit: 7' -and $caught -match 'injected native diagnostic') 'Native failure retains exit code and stderr'
+    $ok = Invoke-WelaNative -FilePath $engine -Arguments @('-NoProfile', '-Command', "[Console]::Error.WriteLine('non-fatal diagnostic'); exit 0")
+    Assert ($ok.ExitCode -eq 0 -and $ok.Diagnostic -match 'non-fatal diagnostic') 'Stderr alone is not a native failure'
+
+    $script:state = 1; $script:writes = 0
+    $read = { $script:state }; $test = { param($value) $value -eq 2 }
+    $apply = { $script:writes++; $script:state = 2 }
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl $c test Registry @{ Path = 'mock'; Name = 'value' } 2 $read $test $apply
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Applied' -and $script:writes -eq 1) 'Changed state is read back before Applied'
+    $journal = Get-Content -LiteralPath (Join-Path $c.BackupPath 'before.jsonl') | ConvertFrom-Json
+    Assert ($journal.Before -eq 1 -and $journal.Desired -eq 2) 'Journal contains exact before and requested state'
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl $c repeated Registry @{} 2 $read $test $apply
+    Assert ($c.Results[1].Status -eq 'AlreadyCompliant' -and $script:writes -eq 1) 'Rerun is idempotent'
+    $r = Complete-WelaConfiguration $c
+    Assert ($r.ExitCode -eq 0) 'Verified controls produce successful overall status'
+    $script:state = 1
+    $r = Complete-WelaConfiguration $c
+    Assert ($r.ExitCode -eq 1 -and $r.Results[0].Status -eq 'Overridden') 'Final check detects observed drift without attributing its cause'
+
+    $c = New-TestContext -DryRun
+    $script:writes = 0
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl $c dry Registry @{} 2 $read $test $apply
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Skipped' -and $script:writes -eq 0) 'Dry run never invokes mutation'
+    Assert (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $c.BackupPath)) 'Dry run creates no backup or journal'
+
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl $c false_success Registry @{} 2 $read $test { }
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Failed') 'Successful write command with wrong read-back is Failed'
+    Assert ((Complete-WelaConfiguration $c).ExitCode -eq 1) 'Read-back failure makes overall status nonzero'
+
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    $c.BackupPath = Join-Path $c.BackupPath 'missing-parent'
+    $script:writes = 0
+    Invoke-WelaConfigurationControl $c journal_failed Registry @{} 2 $read $test $apply
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Failed' -and $script:writes -eq 0) 'Journal failure prevents mutation'
+
+    # Registry provider failures and false-success writes use the same verified
+    # control runner; no actual registry provider is touched in these tests.
+    $script:registryValue = 0; $script:registryWrites = 0; $script:registryThrows = $true
+    function global:Get-WelaRegistryState {
+        param($Path, $Name)
+        [pscustomobject]@{ KeyExists = $true; ValueExists = $true; Value = $script:registryValue; Type = 'DWord' }
+    }
+    function global:Test-Path {
+        param($LiteralPath, $Path, $ErrorAction)
+        if ($LiteralPath -like 'HKLM:*') { return $true }
+        Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\Test-Path -LiteralPath $(if ($LiteralPath) { $LiteralPath } else { $Path })
+    }
+    function global:Set-ItemProperty {
+        param($LiteralPath, $Name, $Value, $Type, $ErrorAction)
+        $script:registryWrites++
+        if ($script:registryThrows) { throw 'Injected registry access denied' }
+        $script:registryValue = $Value
+    }
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Set-WelaRegistryControl $c 'HKLM:\mock' Value 1
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Failed' -and $c.Results[0].Diagnostic -match 'access denied') 'Registry write errors produce failed results'
+    $script:registryThrows = $false
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Set-WelaRegistryControl $c 'HKLM:\mock' Value 1
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Applied' -and $c.Results[0].After.Value -eq 1) 'Registry writes require verified value and type'
+    $beforeWrites = $script:registryWrites
+    Set-WelaRegistryControl $c 'HKLM:\mock' Value 1
+    Assert ($c.Results[1].Status -eq 'AlreadyCompliant' -and $script:registryWrites -eq $beforeWrites) 'Registry reruns preserve compliant values'
+
+    # Missing nested registry parents must be created individually, retaining
+    # existing parent keys/values. Mock provider rejects children without parents.
+    $script:mockKeys = @{'HKLM:' = $true; 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE' = $true}
+    $script:createdKeys = New-Object 'System.Collections.Generic.List[string]'
+    function global:Test-Path {
+        param($LiteralPath, $Path, $ErrorAction)
+        if ($LiteralPath -like 'HKLM:*') { return $script:mockKeys.ContainsKey($LiteralPath) }
+        Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\Test-Path -LiteralPath $(if ($LiteralPath) { $LiteralPath } else { $Path })
+    }
+    function global:New-Item {
+        param($Path, $ItemType, [switch]$Force, $ErrorAction)
+        if ($Path -notlike 'HKLM:*') { return Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\New-Item @PSBoundParameters }
+        if ($Force) { throw 'Test refuses Force on registry keys' }
+        if ($script:mockKeys.ContainsKey($Path)) { throw 'Existing parent would be recreated' }
+        $parent = $Path.Substring(0, $Path.LastIndexOf('\'))
+        if (-not $script:mockKeys.ContainsKey($parent)) { throw "Missing registry parent: $parent" }
+        $script:createdKeys.Add($Path); $script:mockKeys[$Path] = $true
+    }
+    New-WelaRegistryKey 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ModuleLogging'
+    Assert ($script:createdKeys.Count -eq 5 -and $script:mockKeys.ContainsKey('HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ModuleLogging')) 'Missing registry ancestors are created safely in order'
+    New-WelaRegistryKey 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ModuleLogging'
+    Assert ($script:createdKeys.Count -eq 5) 'Existing registry parents are preserved on rerun'
+
+    # Function stubs stand in for the Windows APIs from this point onward.
+    $script:logSize = 1048576; $script:nativeFails = $true; $script:nativeWrites = 0
+    function global:Get-WinEvent { param($ListLog, $ErrorAction) [pscustomobject]@{ MaximumSizeInBytes = $script:logSize; IsEnabled = $false } }
+    function global:Invoke-WelaNative {
+        param($FilePath, $Arguments)
+        $script:nativeWrites++
+        if ($script:nativeFails) { throw 'wevtutil.exe failed (exit: 5). Injected access denied' }
+        $script:logSize = 134217728
+        [pscustomobject]@{ ExitCode = 0; Output = @(); Diagnostic = 'mock success' }
+    }
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Set-WelaEventLogControl $c Security MaximumSizeInBytes 134217728
+    $r = Complete-WelaConfiguration $c
+    Assert ($r.ExitCode -eq 1 -and $r.Results[0].Diagnostic -match 'access denied') 'Injected wevtutil failure survives through the final report'
+    $script:nativeFails = $false
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Set-WelaEventLogControl $c Security MaximumSizeInBytes 134217728
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Applied') 'Event log helper reads verified size'
+    Set-WelaEventLogControl $c Security MaximumSizeInBytes 134217728
+    Assert ($c.Results[1].Status -eq 'AlreadyCompliant') 'Event log helper avoids repeated writes'
+
+    # Compile the interop declaration without invoking Windows APIs on this host.
+    Initialize-WelaConfigurationAuditApi
+    Assert ($null -ne ('Wela.ConfigurationAuditApi' -as [type])) 'Audit query interop compiles'
+    function global:Get-WelaNativeAuditPolicy { param($Guid) return 3 }
+    Assert ((Get-WelaAuditPolicyMask '0CCE922B-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030') -eq 3) 'Audit policy uses native numeric flags independent of locale'
+    function global:Get-WelaNativeAuditPolicy { param($Guid) return 4 }
+    Assert ((Get-WelaAuditPolicyMask '0CCE922B-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030') -eq 0) 'Native NONE flag normalizes to no success/failure audit'
+    function global:Get-WelaNativeAuditPolicy { param($Guid) return 16 }
+    $caught = ''
+    try { Get-WelaAuditPolicyMask '0CCE922B-69AE-11D9-BED3-505054503030' } catch { $caught = $_.ToString() }
+    Assert ($caught -ne '') 'Unexpected native flags cannot be marked compliant'
+
+    # Extract ConfigureAuditSettings without running the WELA command dispatcher.
+    $tokens = $null; $errors = $null
+    $ast = [Management.Automation.Language.Parser]::ParseFile((Join-Path $repo 'WELA.ps1'), [ref]$tokens, [ref]$errors)
+    $configure = $ast.Find({ param($node) $node -is [Management.Automation.Language.FunctionDefinitionAst] -and $node.Name -eq 'ConfigureAuditSettings' }, $false)
+    Assert ($configure.Extent.Text -notmatch 'Configuration completed successfully|Start-Process|Out-Null') 'Configure has no unverified native execution or unconditional success'
+
+    # Run the actual configure dispatcher in a child process with only the
+    # configuration function replaced by a harmless failed-report fixture.
+    $dispatch = $ast.Find({ param($node) $node -is [Management.Automation.Language.SwitchStatementAst] -and $node.Condition.Extent.Text -eq '$Cmd.ToLower()' }, $false)
+    $clause = @($dispatch.Clauses | Where-Object { $_.Item1.Value -eq 'configure' })[0].Item2.Extent.Text
+    $child = 'function ConfigureAuditSettings { [pscustomobject]@{ ExitCode = 1; Failed = 1; Results = @() } }; & ' + $clause
+    $encoded = [Convert]::ToBase64String([Text.Encoding]::Unicode.GetBytes($child))
+    $childOutput = @(& $engine -NoProfile -EncodedCommand $encoded 2>&1)
+    $childExit = $global:LASTEXITCODE
+    Assert ($childExit -eq 1) 'The actual configure dispatcher returns nonzero for a failed control report'
+
+    # CA-specific wrapper: registry read succeeds, certutil succeeds, restart
+    # fails. All APIs below are mocks, including Test-Path for the mock CA only.
+    $realTestPath = (Get-Command Test-Path).Name
+    function global:Test-Path {
+        param($LiteralPath, $Path, $ErrorAction)
+        if ($LiteralPath -like 'HKLM:*') { return $true }
+        Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\Test-Path -LiteralPath $(if ($LiteralPath) { $LiteralPath } else { $Path })
+    }
+    function global:Get-ItemProperty { param($LiteralPath, $Name, $ErrorAction) [pscustomobject]@{ Active = 'MockCA' } }
+    function global:Join-Path {
+        param($Path, $ChildPath)
+        if ($Path -like 'HKLM:*') { return "$Path\$ChildPath" }
+        Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\Join-Path -Path $Path -ChildPath $ChildPath
+    }
+    $script:filter = 0; $script:restartCalls = 0; $script:filterType = 'DWord'
+    function global:Get-WelaRegistryState { param($Path, $Name) [pscustomobject]@{ ValueExists = $true; Value = $script:filter; Type = $script:filterType; KeyExists = $true } }
+    function global:Get-Service { param($Name, $ErrorAction) [pscustomobject]@{ Status = 'Running' } }
+    function global:Restart-Service { param($Name, [switch]$Force, $ErrorAction) $script:restartCalls++; throw 'Injected CertSvc restart failure' }
+    function global:Invoke-WelaNative { param($FilePath, $Arguments) $script:filter = 127; [pscustomobject]@{ ExitCode = 0; Diagnostic = 'mock certutil' } }
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Set-WelaCertificateAuditControl $c
+    $r = Complete-WelaConfiguration $c
+    Assert ($r.ExitCode -eq 1 -and $r.Results[0].Diagnostic -match 'restart failure') 'CA restart failure cannot report success even when registry now equals 127'
+    $script:filter = 0; $script:restartCalls = 0
+    function global:Invoke-WelaNative { param($FilePath, $Arguments) throw 'certutil failed (exit: 5)' }
+    $c = New-TestContext
+    Set-WelaCertificateAuditControl $c
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Failed' -and $script:restartCalls -eq 0) 'Failed certutil never restarts the CA'
+    $c = New-TestContext -DryRun
+    Set-WelaCertificateAuditControl $c
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Skipped' -and $script:restartCalls -eq 0) 'CA dry run never writes or restarts'
+
+    $script:filter = '127'; $script:filterType = 'String'
+    $c = New-TestContext -DryRun
+    Set-WelaCertificateAuditControl $c
+    Assert ($c.Results[0].Status -eq 'Skipped') 'REG_SZ 127 is not accepted as a compliant CA DWORD AuditFilter'
+
+    Write-Host "$script:passed configuration-result regression assertions passed. No Windows settings changed."
+} finally {
+    foreach ($path in $script:cleanup) {
+        if (Microsoft.PowerShell.Management\Test-Path -LiteralPath $path) {
+            Remove-Item -LiteralPath $path -Recurse -Force
+        }
+    }
+}