Linux server hardening
A default Linux install is reasonably secure; a Linux server that has been running for three years with root logins, password SSH and no patching is not. Hardening is mostly discipline: reduce what is exposed, log what happens and patch on a schedule.
We apply CIS or STIG profiles with OpenSCAP or Ansible roles, tune them so applications still work, and produce the compliance reports insurers and auditors ask for.
At a glance
| Baselines | CIS Benchmarks, DISA STIG, PCI DSS controls |
|---|---|
| Tools | OpenSCAP, Ansible hardening roles, Lynis, fail2ban, auditd |
| Access | Key-only SSH, MFA via PAM, sudo policies, no shared root |
| Logging | rsyslog/journald to a central collector, file integrity monitoring |
What RackLedge does
- Baseline assessment and gap report
- Automated hardening with exceptions documented
- Central logging and alerting
- Recurring compliance scans
How we work
Linux fleets stay healthy through automation and discipline. We build servers from a standard image with Ansible, patch them on a schedule with a staging ring, keep SELinux or AppArmor on, and log everything to a central collector. The result is a fleet that looks the same everywhere and can be rebuilt from Git.
Migrations, whether CentOS to Rocky, RHEL 8 to 9 or Windows to Linux, are done per workload with a test pass, a cutover window and a rollback. We coordinate with application vendors and keep the paperwork for compliance.
Subscriptions and licences are reviewed as part of the work. Plenty of businesses pay for RHEL where Rocky would do, or run unsupported CentOS where a subscription would satisfy an auditor. We fix both directions.
Related services
More on linux and red hat
Frequently asked questions
Will hardening break my application?
Some controls will, which is why we test in staging and document exceptions instead of silently skipping them.
Need a hand with this?
Tell us what you are running and what is slowing you down. You get a straight assessment and a plan, with no obligation. Support desk is staffed 24/7.