Understanding System Hardening
What is hardening?
Hardening is the process of making a system more secure by reducing its vulnerabilities and attack surface. This includes identifying and removing unnecessary services, closing unused ports, removing default accounts, applying security updates, and configuring systems according to the best security practices. Think of it as making your digital infrastructure stronger by removing every possible way an attacker might exploit it.
This process applies to different parts of your ICT environment. These parts include operating systems, applications, databases, networks, and cloud infrastructure. Each component needs its own hardening strategy, which is based on its specific risks and functions.
Why Hardening Matters
Every default installation comes with features and services designed for ease of use and broad compatibility, not security. These conveniences often create security gaps that attackers actively exploit. Here are some good reasons to make strengthening a priority:
Reduced Attack Surface: If you disable a service, close a port, or remove an unnecessary feature, you make it harder for attackers to access your system. By keeping the exposed surfaces small, you greatly reduce the chances of a compromise.
Here are the rules you need to follow: Many rules and industry standards require that systems be made more secure. If you are subject to PCI DSS, HIPAA, or GDPR, you often have to show that you have proper hardening practices.
A strong defense is important for a good security plan. Even if other defenses fail, a properly hardened system is much more difficult to hack.
Reduced Blast Radius: If there is a breach, your systems are designed to limit what an attacker can access and accomplish. This helps contain the damage and prevent the attacker from moving through your network.
Industry Standards: CIS Benchmarks and More
Instead of starting from scratch, organizations can use well-established standards for hardening their systems. These standards represent a consensus among industry experts on the best ways to keep systems secure.
CIS Benchmarks are perhaps the most widely recognized hardening standards. The Center for Internet Security developed these standards by working with cybersecurity experts worldwide. The standards provide detailed, actionable guidelines for over 140 technologies, including major operating systems, cloud platforms, databases, and network devices. The benchmarks are grouped by how they are implemented. This makes it easier to decide which configurations to use first.
Other important hardening frameworks include:
DISA STIGs (Security Technical Implementation Guides) are used a lot in the government and defense sectors.
The NIST Security Guidelines offer complete structures for federal systems.
The NSA Security Configuration Guides offer advice on making various platforms more secure.
Microsoft, Red Hat, and others provide guides that explain how to make a computer system more secure for a specific vendor.
Start learning about hardening
Implementing hardening doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some practical steps to take:
List the things you own: You can’t hold on to something if you don’t know it’s yours.
Choose the right standards: Choose the benchmarks that are important for your technology stack.
Prioritize based on risk: First, focus on systems that are connected to the internet and are critical.
Automate where possible: Use configuration management tools to make sure things are always set to the “hardened” state.
Test thoroughly: Changes can make your website or app malfunction, so test them in a practice environment first.
Keep an eye on it and take care of it: Hardening isn’t something you only do once; it’s something you need to keep doing.
That’s all for today!
Making a system more secure is the most important part of modern cybersecurity. By reducing weak points and following standards like CIS Benchmarks, organizations can improve their security and make it harder for attackers. In a world where news about breaches is everywhere, the question isn’t whether you can pay to make your systems stronger, but whether you can pay not to make them stronger.
Remember: every security setting you set now will help protect you against future attacks.