Below is a structured write-up covering the essential stages of a Linux hardening project. 1. Update and Patch Management
Disable password-based authentication ( PasswordAuthentication no ) in favor of SSH key-pair authentication . Linux Server Hardening
The most critical step is ensuring all software is current to close known vulnerabilities. Below is a structured write-up covering the essential
Run system updates immediately upon setup (e.g., apt update && apt upgrade for Debian/Ubuntu or dnf update for RHEL/Fedora). Linux Server Hardening
Configure automatic security updates using tools like unattended-upgrades on Debian/Ubuntu or dnf-automatic on RHEL/Fedora. 2. Secure Access (SSH Hardening)
Follow the principle of least privilege to limit what users and services can do.