Linux Security Hardening Checklist: From Minimal Installation to Compliance
Introduction A default Linux server installation exposes a far larger attack surface than most realize: unnecessary RPM packages, open network services, permissive SSH configurations, and inactive audit systems. Security hardening is not a one-time operation but a full lifecycle checklist from installation to runtime. This article follows the CIS Benchmark framework to organize hardening essentials, with directly executable configurations for each step. System Minimal Installation Principles Package Management Trimming The core principle of minimal installation: install only what you need, not what you might need....