Server Hardening
Server hardening is a general system hardening process that involves securing the data, ports, components, functions, and permissions of a server using advanced security measures at the hardware, firmware, and software layers. Hardening process reduces your business' attack surface and helps you guard against ransomware, malware, and other cyber threats. You can follow this process to protect all points of entry against cyberattacks, address cybersecurity weaknesses, and optimize your security posture.
- Create a security plan.
- Patch and update your OS.
- Remove or deactivate unnecessary applications, services, or network protocols.
- Configure OS user authentication.
- Utilize authentication and encryption technologies.
- Keeping a server’s operating system patched and updated.
- Regularly updating third-party software essential to the operation of the server and removing third-party software that doesn’t conform to established cybersecurity standards.
- Using strong and more complex passwords and developing strong password policies for users.
- Locking user accounts if a certain number of failed login attempts are registered and removing needless accounts.
- Disabling USB ports at boot.
- Implementing multi-factor authentication.
- Using self-encrypting drives or AES encryption to conceal and protect sensitive information.
- Using firmware resilience technology, memory encryption, antivirus and firewall protection, and advanced cybersecurity suites specific to your operating system, such as Windows Server.
