Given the ease of executing this security essential, there’s no reason to avoid or procrastinate. The next principle is that you split bigger areas into smaller ones. If we look at that building again, we have split it into multiple floors. Maybe you visitor is only allowed on floor 4, in the blue zone. If we translate this to Linux security, this principle would apply to memory usage.
Pick a password that is different than any of the other passwords that you use for your system. Drive encryption will render any disk that is stolen useless by a would-be data thief. An encrypted drive is unreadable by anyone who doesn’t have the encryption password or key.
This protocol has known vulnerabilities and must not be used. A good way to monitor log activity is to use third-party log monitoring software, such as LogWatch, for log analysis and notifications. Notifications and daily digests can be sent to administrators via email.
Disabling boot from external devices can only safeguard you from unauthorized access. Users who have access to the system and a malicious intent can still copy sensitive files to their USB and thunderbolt sticks. Worse still, they can install malware, viruses, or backdoors on your servers. Once access to USB and Thunderbolt devices is disabled, a user cannot harm the system in these ways. Approaching system hardening with a four-level approach is an effective way to secure your system in multiple areas. Locking down the BIOS and separating partitions sets a secure foundation at the machine level.
As more companies adopt Linux, the frequency of Linux attacks is also increasing. Contrary to popular belief, Linux is not inherently safe and should be hardened to safeguard your instances. The tips and methods discussed in this article are not exhaustive but they do cover hardening from a wide perspective. The importance of a well-managed backup can’t be overstated.
As a result, many firms disregard hardening work because of the resources that must be used while accepting the risk of production outages. Prior to implementation, the effects of any hardening activity in a Linux server should be assessed rigorously. Unfortunately, this testing process is highly time-consuming and difficult, especially in an organizational environment with so many interconnections. In addition, the user would not experience any downtime when hardening, thanks to automation. The most secure process would be to disable all root access.
This way, you can easily see if you need to change any parameter to enhance the security of the SSH server. To take SSH security to the next level, you may also enable two-factor authentication. In this approach, you receive a one-time password on your mobile linux hardening and security lessons phone, email or through a third-party aunthentication app. Before you go for this approach, make sure that you have added your own public key to the server and it works. You may also add selected users to a new group and allow only this group to access SSH.