Server Configuration Audit Approach and Methodology

Our Server configuration audit is a process of systematically reviewing and assessing the configuration settings of servers to ensure they align with security best practices, industry standards, and organizational policies. The primary goal of this audit is to identify and rectify any misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, or weaknesses that may expose servers to security risks and potential attacks. During a server configuration audit, SecureVity security professionals or auditors compare the actual configuration of servers against established baselines or security guidelines, such as those provided by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks or vendor-specific best practices. The audit covers various aspects of server settings, including operating system configurations, network settings, authentication mechanisms, access controls, encryption settings, service configurations, logging, and monitoring.

Our Approach for Server Configuration Audit:

1.Obtain the CIS Benchmark:

Obtain the latest version of the CIS Benchmark for the specific server operating system or platform you intend to audit. The CIS Benchmarks are comprehensive guidelines that provide security best practices and recommendations for securing server configurations.

2.Audit Scope Definition:

Define the scope of the server configuration audit, including the specific server operating systems and versions to be audited. Identify the target configurations and settings to be reviewed based on the CIS Benchmark recommendations.

3.Configuration Baseline Creation:

Establish a configuration baseline that aligns with the CIS Benchmark guidelines. Document the current configuration settings of each server to be audited as the baseline for comparison during the audit.

4.Automated Tools Selection:

Select appropriate automated configuration auditing tools that support the CIS Benchmark for the targeted server operating system. These tools help efficiently identify deviations from the baseline and provide detailed reports on non-compliant settings.

5.Configuration Data Collection:

Collect the configuration data from the target servers using the selected automated tools. Ensure that the tools are properly configured to retrieve the necessary configuration parameters and security settings.

6.Comparison with CIS Benchmark:

Compare the configuration data collected from each server against the CIS Benchmark guidelines. Identify any deviations, misconfigurations, or non-compliant settings.

7.Risk Assessment:

Evaluate the impact of identified configuration deviations on the overall security of the servers. Conduct a risk assessment to prioritize findings based on the severity and potential impact on the server's availability, confidentiality, and integrity.

8.Security Hardening Review:

Review the security hardening settings implemented on servers to ensure they align with the CIS Benchmark recommendations. Security hardening involves disabling unnecessary services, applying access controls, and implementing encryption where required.

9.Authentication and Access Controls:

Verify the authentication settings and access controls configured on servers to ensure they comply with the CIS Benchmark guidelines. Review user accounts, passwords, and administrative access permissions.

10.Log and Monitoring Configuration:

Assess the logging and monitoring configurations to ensure they meet the CIS Benchmark recommendations. Verify that logs capture relevant security events and are protected from unauthorized access or tampering.

11.Application and Service Configuration:

Review application and service configurations on servers to ensure they align with security best practices and industry standards, as recommended by the CIS Benchmark.

12.Reporting and Recommendations:

Document all findings, including identified deviations, misconfigurations, and non-compliant settings. Prepare a detailed audit report that includes the audit scope, methodology, observations, risk assessments, and recommendations. Provide clear and actionable recommendations to address identified issues and bring the server configurations in line with the CIS Benchmark guidelines.

13.Remediation and Follow-up:

Collaborate with server administrators and IT teams to prioritize and implement the necessary configuration changes. Work on remediation efforts to address identified issues and deviations. Conduct follow-up assessments to verify the effectiveness of the remediation efforts.

14.Continuous Monitoring:

Implement continuous monitoring practices to ensure that server configurations remain compliant with the CIS Benchmark over time. Regularly review and update the configuration baseline as per the latest CIS Benchmark updates or organizational changes.