Glossary

Network Hardening

Network hardening is locking down everything that does not need to be open - fewer doors mean fewer ways for attackers to get in.

What is Network Hardening?

Reducing network attack surface by disabling unnecessary services, applying secure configurations, and implementing controls.

Why Should You Care?

Default configurations are often insecure. Hardening reduces vulnerabilities and limits attacker options.

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Real-World Example

Network hardening disables Telnet, requires SSH key authentication, and removes unused protocols from switches.

How to Protect Against Network Hardening

  1. 1.

    Apply hardening benchmarks to network devices

  2. 2.

    Disable unused services and protocols

Related Terms

Cis Benchmark, Configuration, Security

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