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Hello and welcome to this comprehensive lesson on system hardening. My name is Vijin Palazhi, and I’ll be your guide as we explore various techniques for securing your systems. This lesson is designed for anyone looking to reduce the host operating system footprint and limit node access, ensuring your deployment remains as secure as possible.
In this lesson, we will cover practical hardening techniques that include not only configuration changes but also hands-on labs to reinforce learning.

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Topics Covered

  • SSH Hardening: Learn how to disable root user access and configure passwordless SSH to bolster your system’s security.
  • Privilege Escalation: Understand how privilege escalation works in Linux and discover effective mitigation strategies.
  • Removal of Obsolete Packages: Identify and remove outdated packages and services to minimize potential vulnerabilities.
  • Kernel Module Restrictions: Learn methods to restrict kernel modules, thereby reducing the attack surface.
  • Network Port Management: Identify and disable unused open ports in Linux to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Cloud Role Minimization: Understand the importance of minimizing roles and access in cloud environments to maintain secure operations.
  • Firewall Configuration: Gain insights into effective firewall setup and management.
  • Seccomp for System Calls: Explore how to restrict system calls using Seccomp.
  • Security Tools: Get acquainted with security tools like AppArmor that can enhance your system protection.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced professional in software development, operations, or IT, this section will equip you with essential security fundamentals and practical skills.

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Prerequisites

Before diving into the hands-on labs, we’ll cover the prerequisite concepts to ensure that you have a solid understanding of basic security practices. These fundamentals are vital not only for certification and Kubernetes environments but also for securing any IT infrastructure. This lesson is packed with numerous practical labs designed to reinforce your learning through direct application of the concepts covered. Prepare to engage with interactive exercises that will help you master each technique effectively.

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