$ sudo auditctl -l
Linux Hardening for Cloud Workloads
A practical baseline for securing Linux hosts running production Kubernetes and CI/CD agents.
Key Takeaways
- ▹Harden SSH, kernel params, and package baselines
- ▹Enable audit trails and tamper-resistant logs
- ▹Automate compliance checks with scripts
Why Linux Hardening
Cloud workloads are targets for attacks. Hardened baseline reduces attack surface and ensures compliance.
SSH Hardening
Disable root login. Use key-based auth only. Disable password authentication. Limit max auth attempts.
Kernel Parameters
Enable rp_filter. Disable ICMP broadcast. Disable accept redirects. Restrict dmesg access.
User Management
Use service accounts with minimal privileges. Use sudo with logging. Enforce password complexity.
Audit Logging
Install and configure auditd. Monitor /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, sshd_config for changes.
Automated Tools
Use CIS Benchmarks, Lynis, or OpenSCAP for automated hardening and compliance checks.
Checklist
Disable unnecessary services. Configure firewall. Enable SELinux/AppArmor. Regular patching.
DevSecOps Security Automation
Integrate security checks directly into delivery pipelines without slowing release velocity.
Explore ServiceZero Trust Cloud Networking Blueprint
Multi-cloud workloads needed stronger east-west traffic control and access governance.
View Case Study