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Server hardening

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Strengthening IT infrastructure by reducing possible attack paths

When using any complex system, some functionality is inevitably left unused or incorrectly configured, which can become a breach in the protection of your virtual fortress.

Removing and correctly configuring this functionality will allow you to close the hidden pathways before the enemy uses them.

infographic Security Hardening

Strengthening systems and networks, also called hardening, often becomes one of the first steps towards improving the cybersecurity of an organisation, and mainly consists of disabling some of the functions, limiting their capabilities, modernising and improving components, etc. This significantly limits the capabilities of attackers, since it reduces the attack surface, i.e. the number of potentially vulnerable spots.

Server administrators often have a blurry view of their systems. Therefore, getting an external impartial investigation is extremely useful to strengthen your systems, which you can get with our help.

Therefore, security hardening refers to the set of technologies, methods, and best practices used to reduce vulnerabilities in software, hardware, networks, infrastructure, and other components. By hardening security, you can decrease security risks by removing potential attack routes and minimising the attack surface of your system, providing attackers and viruses with fewer opportunities to gain access to your IT ecosystem by removing unnecessary and vulnerable software and data.

How to harden a system?

One way to make a system more secure is to reduce the number of attack vectors, which are technological vulnerabilities and backdoors that malicious users could exploit. These vulnerabilities can take many forms, such as default passwords, lack of proper access controls, or poor data encryption.

Ten best practices for hardening your system

The type of hardening implemented will depend on the hazards associated with your current technology, the tools you have, and the importance of resolving issues.

1
Audit existing systems
Use security auditing technologies like configuration audit, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing to find system weaknesses and set priorities for solutions.
2
Develop a thought-out strategy for system hardening
It’s not necessary to harden every system at once. Instead, develop a strategy based on the risks found in your technological ecosystem and then apply a step-by-step approach to fix the most critical problems.
3
Fix vulnerabilities
Implement an automated mechanism to thoroughly identify vulnerabilities and apply patches. If vulnerabilities are sometimes impossible to patch, additional safeguards such as revoking admin permissions should be put in place.
4
Network hardening
Ensure that your firewall is configured correctly and all rules are consistently audited.
5
Server hardening
Put all corporate servers in a secure data centre, avoid placing unnecessary software on servers, correctly segregate servers, and reduce port vulnerability, especially in cloud environments.
6
Endpoint hardening
Remove local admin privileges from all endpoints, ensure that none of the devices have default passwords, remove redundant programs, and block communication.
7
Application hardening
Limit access to programs based on user roles and context, remove any components or features you don’t need, and monitor integrations with other apps and systems, eliminating or reducing unused integration components and rights.
8
Database hardening
Implement administrative controls such as restricting user access to databases, encrypting database data, and deactivating inactive accounts.
9
OS hardening
Automate the installation of service packs, patches, and OS upgrades, eliminate unnecessary software, functionality, libraries, and drivers.
10
Removal of unused privileges and accounts
Delete abandoned accounts and credentials to enforce the least privilege across your IT architecture.

These are the most powerful security practices for reducing the attack surface.

Why we are the best

serviceBest Practices
As MSSP, we have a lot of experience and are constantly learning new things, so our recommendations are up to date. We are guided by CIS Benchmarks, NIST 800-53, and other standards.
serviceWide coverage
Our experience and qualifications allow us to successfully protect almost any system and technology, from Windows NT/95 to the most modern cloud solutions, DevOps and CI/CD technologies.
serviceWith stability in mind
We analyse the potential impact of each recommendation to ensure the continuity of your business processes. We help you to test and securely implement changes.
serviceIndependent assessment
The absence of a conflict of interest allows us to speak directly about the problems we have found and look for ways to solve them. Such efficient and thorough coverage is often unattainable when customers perform the hardening with their own resources since their system administrators are overwhelmed by the day-to-day tasks, which they consider more important.

In conclusion, cybersecurity hardening is an essential service that you must obtain to secure critical parts of your IT infrastructure.

Our services will allow you to take an objective look at your IT landscape and develop measures that will have a lasting effect, reducing the work of monitoring security events, incident response, and mitigating the consequences of attacks.

Service summary

⏳ Duration of project

Generally, several weeks or months, depending on the number of servers involved, the complexity of the systems, and the scope of the hardening effort.

🎁 Can it be free or have a testing period?

Get a free consultation and the initial analysis of business requirements, and download the hardening checklists from https://www.cisecurity.org/cis-benchmarks.

💼 What type of business needs it?

Financial institutions, healthcare organisations, e-commerce businesses, government agencies, technology companies, and large corporations.

💡 When is this service needed?

Usually, when you are facing regulatory requirements, increased threats, or consider that basic security measures are not enough.

📈 Your profit

Saved money by reducing the risk of data breaches, meeting regulatory compliance requirements, and protecting your reputation.

⚙️ Our methods and tools

Operating system hardening, firewall configuration, access control, antivirus software, patch management, IDS, IPS, security auditing, logging, etc.

📑 Deliverables

Hardening checklists and plans, configuration changes, policies, testing and validation reports, training materials.

Check out our additional services and business cases. Send the form below to request the hardening of your systems. Get a free consultation.

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FAQ

Server hardening refers to the process of improving the security of a server by reducing its attack surface and minimizing potential vulnerabilities. It involves configuring the server software and operating system to remove or disable unnecessary services and functions that could be exploited by attackers.

The goal of server hardening is to make it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive data or compromise the server's functionality.

The primary objective of server hardening is to enhance the security of a server by reducing its attack surface and minimizing the risk of unauthorized access, data theft, and other types of cyber threats.

By implementing server hardening measures, organizations can reduce the likelihood of successful attacks, prevent data loss or corruption, and maintain the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. Additionally, server hardening can help organizations comply with regulatory requirements and industry standards related to data security and privacy.

Some specific objectives of server hardening include:

  • Reducing the risk of exploitation of known vulnerabilities
  • Removing or disabling unnecessary software, services, and functions
  • Implementing access controls and limiting user privileges
  • Configuring firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems
  • Enforcing strong passwords and authentication mechanisms
  • Implementing encryption to protect data in transit and at rest
  • Monitoring server activity and reviewing logs for potential security incidents

There are several types of system hardening that organizations can implement to improve the security of their systems. Some of the most common types include:

  • Operating system hardening: This involves configuring the operating system to remove or disable unnecessary services, ports, and features that could be exploited by attackers. This includes installing security patches and updates, configuring access controls, implementing encryption, and enforcing strong password policies.
  • Network hardening: This involves securing the network infrastructure by implementing firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and other security measures to prevent unauthorized access and data exfiltration.
  • Application hardening: This involves securing the applications that run on the system by implementing secure coding practices, input validation, and error handling, and using security testing tools to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
  • Database hardening: This involves securing the database infrastructure by implementing access controls, encrypting sensitive data, and using auditing and monitoring tools to detect and respond to potential security incidents.
  • Physical hardening: This involves securing the physical environment in which the system is located by implementing access controls, using surveillance cameras, and implementing environmental controls to prevent damage from fire, water, or other hazards.
#CI/CD #CIS #DevOps #DevSecOps #hardening #security_implementation

Business cases of projects we completed

Audit of smart contracts and blockchain
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Information security incident response and investigation
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Managed security and compliance (ISO 27001, etc.)
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Security analysis of software source code
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Security assessment: audits and penetration tests
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Security Operations Center cases
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