What Is Hardening?

Key takeaways

• Hardening is an IT security practice that makes it harder for attackers to breach security by removing anything unnecessary beyond the basic configurations.

• The purpose of hardening is to help limit the threat of attack by turning off non-essential services and patching vulnerabilities.

• Types of hardening include server, software application, database, network, and endpoint hardening.

Common hardening measures include automating updates, training staff, managing passwords, and documenting security incidents.

Read on to learn more about the hardening process, including the benefits of hardening and different hardening measures. If you're ready to build job-ready skills for an in-demand career in cybersecurity, consider enrolling in the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, where you can learn about penetration testing, malware protection, network security, database management, and more.

Types of hardening

To protect against security threats, you can choose from a range of hardening options, such as server, operating system, and network hardening. Nothing can protect against 100 percent of cyberattacks, but you can look to various industry benchmarks. Several different types of hardening exist, including:

• Server

• Software application

• Operating system

• Database

• Network hardening

• Endpoint hardening

• Identity hardening

• Physical hardening

Threats to consider

When looking at the hardening process, it’s important to consider all possible security threats to understand what you’re protecting against and how best to do it. Common threats include the following:

• Malware distribution

• Identity theft

• Sabotaging processes

• Manipulating applications

• Data leakage through hacking

What does hardening mean in software development?

During the software development life cycle (SDLC), hardening refers to applying security measures when creating new software to reduce avenues for attack. Coding languages can be susceptible to vulnerabilities, so software developers must thoroughly understand this to ensure the new application is secure. Establishing a secure software development policy can help your organization with this issue.

Read more: What Is the Software Development Life Cycle? SDLC Explained

Hardening measures

You can take several measures to harden your organization’s security system, such as automating updates, training staff, and managing passwords. Explore these in more detail:

• Automating updates: Software and hardware updates and patches are necessary. Automating them eliminates human error, reduces update delays, and ensures that your system or network stays protected.

• Scanning regularly: Monitor and scan systems regularly for vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or viruses. You can also automate this process.

• Training staff: Train all staff members on security threats and how to protect systems from attacks. This might include how to look out for phishing and how to transfer data safely.

• Managing passwords: A weak password can lead to the infiltration of an entire system or network. If your company suspects a breach, have all employees reset their passwords. Password rotation is another way to reduce the risk of unauthorized account access.

• Documenting processes: Document threats or unusual occurrences so others know whether they have happened before. This helps with troubleshooting and identifying threats.

How hardening measures apply to each type

While the goal of hardening remains consistent, the specific measures you choose will vary depending on which "type" of system you are securing. Implementing these measures creates a multi-layered defense where each layer compensates for the others.

• For server and OS hardening: You primarily focus on automating updates and managing passwords to ensure the core environment remains inaccessible to unauthorized users.

• For database and software hardening: The focus shifts toward scanning regularly for vulnerabilities in the code and documenting processes to ensure data integrity and compliance

• For network hardening: You rely heavily on training staff to recognize perimeter threats like phishing and securing the protocols that allow different clusters to communicate.

• For endpoint hardening: The practice of minimizing weaknesses for each device, such as laptops and mobile phones, by deactivating unnecessary services, sealing unused ports, eliminating default configurations, and upholding rigid security protocols.

By aligning these technical measures with the specific hardware or software in your stack, you ensure that no part of your infrastructure is left open for attackers.

5 benefits of hardening

The primary goal of hardening is to reduce your "attack surface," but the practice offers several strategic advantages beyond just blocking hackers. By stripping away non-essential services and securing configurations, organizations gain the following:

1. Enhanced security posture: Hardening makes a system "harder" to attack by turning off non-essential services and patching known vulnerabilities.

2. Minimized operational risks: Removing everything except the basic configurations necessary to run creates a more stable environment with a reduced risk of misconfigurations.

3. Simplified compliance: Many regulatory frameworks require systems to be configured according to industry benchmarks; by documenting your hardening processes, you create a clear audit trail that proves your systems are meeting security standards.

4. Sensitive data protection: Database hardening and role-based access control allow for better defense against identity theft and data leakage.

5. Upgraded system performance: When hardening your organization’s system against cyberattacks, you remove unneeded services and applications, which streamlines operations. By using only the essential components, your system consumes fewer valuable resources, allowing it to function more efficiently.

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