System Hardening & Security Baselines
Standard configurations of operating systems and server services are often not designed for security-critical environments. Unnecessary services, insecure default policies, or a lack of logging can provide attackers with additional attack vectors.
Structured system hardening and the implementation of security baselines significantly increase system resilience against attacks. We analyze existing configurations, identify security vulnerabilities, and implement hardened configurations for servers, clients, and infrastructure components.
Why system hardening is crucial for IT security
Many IT systems are shipped with extensive standard functions that are not needed in practice. Open services, insecure default configurations, or a lack of security policies significantly increase the attack surface.
Attackers frequently exploit these vulnerabilities to move further within an infrastructure or to gain additional privileges. Insecure configurations in servers, authentication services, or administration systems are particularly critical in this regard.
System hardening reduces these risks by ensuring that only necessary functions remain enabled, security policies are consistently implemented, and security-relevant settings are systematically reviewed.
Our services in the field of system hardening
We support companies in analyzing and implementing secure system configurations based on established security standards.
Our services include, among other things:
• Analysis of existing system configurations
• Implementation of security baselines for servers and clients
• Securing operating system services and network services
• Hardening of administration systems
• Improvement of logging and security-related system policies
• Documentation and sustainable maintainability of the security configuration
In doing so, we adhere to established security standards and adapt the measures to the existing infrastructure and operational processes.
System hardening is a key component of modern cybersecurity requirements.
The implementation of secure system configurations supports, among other things, requirements from:
• NIS2 – technical and organizational security measures
• DORA – Protection of critical ICT systems in the financial sector
• BSI C5 – System Security and secure configuration of cloud systems
• Telecommunications Act (§166) – technical security measures for operators of public networks
Many of these requirements can be implemented in a technically verifiable manner and monitored in the long term through structured security baselines.