What is system hardening?

System hardening is the process of reducing the attack surface of a system by minimizing vulnerabilities and potential entry points for attackers. It involves implementing security measures to protect a system from unauthorized access, malware, and other cyber threats. Common techniques include: removing unnecessary software and services, configuring strong passwords and access controls, applying security patches, enabling firewalls, and using intrusion detection/prevention systems. It is commonly used to improve the overall security posture of servers, workstations, and network devices.