Linux Server Security Hardening

Hardening your linux server can be done in 15 steps.

Linux server security hardening.

Here are 23 security tips to guide you through hardening your linux operating system. Keep kernel and packages up to date. So it is wise to filter out unwanted network traffic or better only allow wanted traffic. The following instructions assume that you are using centos rhel or ubuntu debian based linux distribution.

This could be the removal of an existing system service or uninstall some software components. Linux hardening tools are typically used for configuration audit and system hardening. Linux security from the inside internal hardening generally lends itself to applications where users are allowed to execute programs within the system such as a shared hosting environment. Users for these tools include auditors security professionals system administrators.

Most people assume that linux is already secure and that s a false assumption. If you are using a cloud server then your neighbor systems might not be as friendly as the ones in your own home network. Avoid legacy communication services. Think twice carefully before removing if your system is attached to internet and accessed by the public then think some more on it.

Maintain user accounts and password policy. Disabling selinux means removing security mechanism from the system. Disable remote root access. There are many aspects to linux security including linux system hardening auditing and compliance.

What is system hardening. Encrypt data communication for linux server. Patch third party applications. Security enhanced linux selinux is a compulsory access control security mechanism provided in the kernel.

Enable and configure firewall. Patch the operating system. Disable root console access. Secure bios and disable usb booting.

For greater linux server security hardening it s recommended that you use integrity checking software before you take a system into a production environment online. All data transmitted over a network is open to monitoring. When hardening a linux system one of the first steps is to look at the network traffic that comes in and goes out. You should install aide software before connecting the system to a network if possible.

Read more in the article below which was originally published here on networkworld. To improve the security level of a system we take different types of measures. Linux hardening security tips for professionals.