Secure Baselines
Secure baselines are the minimum set of security configurations applied to systems, applications, and networks to maintain an acceptable level of security. These baselines provide a strong foundation for the protection of information assets and help reduce the attack surface. Secure baselines can be developed through collaboration between security experts, system administrators, and industry best practices. They are typically enforced through Group Policy Objects (GPOs) in a Microsoft Windows environment or through configuration management tools in other environments. Regular review and updates of these baselines are required to accommodate changes in the threat landscape, technology updates, and organizational requirements. A key aspect of secure baselines is the principle of least functionality, which ensures that software, hardware, and configurations only provide necessary functions and nothing more. This minimizes potential vulnerabilities and reduces the attack surface available to threat actors.
Guide: Secure Baselines
What is Secure Baselines?
Secure Baselines are the minimal security configurations that should be established and maintained across an organization’s systems. They create a solid foundation for further, more specific security measures.
Why is it important?
Secure Baselines are an essential aspect of system security because they ensure that there is a minimum standard of security applied across all systems. This reduces potential attack vectors, protects against common threats and helps ensure compliance with security policies.
How it works :
Secure Baselines generally involve defining a set of policies, configurations and settings applicable to a type of system or software. Once these minimum settings are defined, they can be enforced and maintained using various tools and procedures.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Secure Baselines
- Understand that the primary purpose of a secure baseline is to establish a consistent security posture across systems.
- Remember that secure baselines involve not only initial setup but ongoing maintenance and compliance checking.
- Don't confuse secure baselines with the larger scope of system hardening - secure baselines are a piece of this larger security practice.
- Be prepared to explain how secure baselines can help protect against security threats and ensure compliance with security policies.
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