System Hardening

System Hardening Software

Cybercriminals continually develop new and more sophisticated methods and tools to obtain network access. System hardening solutions like vRx make protecting your hardware, networks, and sensitive data easier.

vRx guarantees system hardening criteria that demonstrate a persistent commitment to discovering, shutting down, and limiting vulnerabilities.

What is System Hardening?

System hardening is a term used to describe the various techniques used to lower the attack surface of computer systems, including software and data systems. System hardening aims to reduce the system’s “threat profile” or weak areas. When a company audits its systems, it seeks to identify and remediate any potential security flaws, emphasizing the modification of default configuration and settings to make them safer.

System hardening aims to eradicate as many security vulnerabilities as possible. By reducing the attack surface, cyberattackers have fewer entry points or possible entrance points for the bad actors.

Defining an attack surface is a matter of taking into account all possible vulnerabilities and backdoors in technology. Vulnerabilities such as the following are typical:

Inaccessible files with predefined passwords or log in credentials

Irregularities in the software and firmware

Data that has not been encrypted

Infrastructure equipment that is not correctly setup

The inability to configure user permissions correctly

Incorrectly configured security tools

How Does System Hardening Work?

Hardening your systems requires an organized approach to assessing, identifying, closing, and stopping any security vulnerabilities in your firm. System hardening activities include, but are not limited to:

Application hardening
Database hardening
Operating system hardening
Network hardening
Server hardening

System hardening principles are universal, but specific tools and procedures differ depending on what type of system hardening you are undertaking. Systems must be hardened throughout their lifecycles, from when they are installed to when they are decommissioned. Mandates like DSS PCI and HIPAA call for the hardening of systems.

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System Hardening Standards & Best Practices

Your company should follow numerous necessary measures and principles for system or server hardening. Using our streamlined vulnerable management software, you can take advantage of the following best practices:

Audit your existing systems: Examine your present technology and evaluate solutions using technologies like penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and configuration management. Using NIST, CIS, Microsoft, and other industry standards can help you comply with cybersecurity regulations.

Prioritize hardening systems: All of your systems do not need to be hardened simultaneously. Plan and strategize to first address the most critical faults in your technological ecosystem.

Patch vulnerabilities immediately: Maintain an active event response program by identifying and patching vulnerabilities.

Network hardening: Build a network hardening plan that comprises a firewall with well-tested rules, secure remote clients and access points, disable unneeded programs, and encrypt all network activity.

Deactivate or remove unused accounts and permissions: Remove unnecessary features, restrict access, alter default passwords, and impose strong authentication.

Database hardening: Create admin restrictions, validate apps and users, encrypt data, enforce strong passwords, and delete unused accounts.

Operating system hardening: restricts permissions, encrypts local storage, reports all failures, warnings, and events, and enables privileged user controls.

Application hardening: While developing and implementing security hardening best practices takes time, but they pay dividends for your firm. Your systems run more smoothly once old apps, software, and permissions are eliminated.

Hardening servers: All servers must be housed in a secure data center, and that hardening tests aren’t performed on live production machines. Keep unneeded software off a server, set up superuser and administrative shares correctly, and limit privileges and access to servers according to the principle of least privilege.

Benefits of System Hardening Software

Continuous effort is recovered through systems hardening, but the assiduity pays dividends across your firm via:

There are fewer programs and functions, which means fewer operational problems, configuration errors, and incompatibilities.

System hardening involves implementing security measures and configurations to reduce vulnerabilities, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards by fortifying the system against potential threats, thus enhancing overall security posture and aligning with regulatory requirements.

System hardening enhances the organization's reputation by bolstering its security measures and reducing the risk of cyberattacks, thereby instilling trust among stakeholders and demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and assets.

Ready to enhance security with world-class system hardening software?

vRx’s system hardening solutions are just the tip of the iceberg. It is a fully-featured cloud-based vulnerability management platform that allows security teams to identify and resolve security breaches, threats, and risks comprehensively and straightforwardly.
TOPIA’s other vulnerability management advantages include virtual patching, vulnerability scanning, vulnerability management, and vulnerability remediation.

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Interested in system hardening software? Speak with one of our product consultants for more information.