One of my takeaways was properly configured resource controls. Commonly used server operating systems provide the ability to specify access rights to files, directories, devices, and other computing resources. Administrators can prevent users from making configuration changes that could reduce security. It will limit an attacker’s ability to attack servers or other hosts on the network. Carefully set access controls can deny personnel unauthorized access. Server administrators can reduce intentional and unintentional security breaches. Sometimes administrators configure the operating system to provide an isolated virtual environment for running server software. Users can access only virtual environments that are independent of the underlying operating system. Restrict the execution privileges of most system-related tools to authorized systems.
The NIST 800-123 covers 17 security-related areas that relate to protecting confidentiality, integrity, availability of federal information systems. This includes all the areas we recognize that is important to information systems such as access control, managers and users must be limited access and have role-based access. Everyone must be training and awareness of security risks on a frequent training basis. All organizations must audit records to monitor controls are effective and implemented correctly. Configuration management makes sure organizations must configure and maintain baseline inventories of everything. By following everything in this guy and all 17 security areas will definitely set most companies up for success.
The General Server Security Guide covers a number of aspects to ensure server security. These guidelines are designed to help administrators and operations teams reduce security risks, protect data integrity and confidentiality, and maintain system availability and reliability. Here are some key server security guidelines:
Security updates and patch management; The principle of least authority; Firewall and network security; Logging and monitoring; User and authentication; Data protection and encryption; Application security; Physical security; Security audit and compliance.
This guide is intended to help organizations understand how to secure and maintain servers that provide services over network communications. It discusses in detail the need to protect servers and provides recommendations for selecting, implementing, and maintaining the necessary security controls. Among other things, for security policies and processes, the policy establishes clear server security policies and processes and ensures that all relevant personnel understand and follow them. This includes provisions for security access control, data protection, incident response, etc. In terms of vulnerability assessment and risk management, regular security vulnerability assessment and risk management are required to identify potential security risks and vulnerabilities and take appropriate security measures to reduce risks. Professional security tools and services are used to assess the security of servers, and appropriate security strategies are formulated based on the assessment results.
he main function of security testing is to identify threats in the system, and prevent malicious attacks from intruders; which is why security testing such as vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are essential in managing risks, prevent data theft, and making sure there is no unauthorized access. Vulnerability scanning searches and identifies vulnerabilities in networks and applications. Penetration testing methods are that of an attacker – compromising networks and exploiting weak areas to gain access. Periodic scanning using both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing is highly recommended to help prevent attacks on organization’s networks.
General server security involves implementing measures to protect servers from unauthorized access, data breaches, malware infections, and other cyber threats. Server security is a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and services within an organization. The General Server Security Guide outlines best practices and recommendations to help administrators and operations teams reduce security risks effectively.
This guide aims to assist organizations in securing and maintaining network-connected servers, emphasizing the importance of protecting these servers. It offers recommendations for selecting, implementing, and maintaining security controls. Central to this is the establishment of clear server security policies and processes, ensuring that personnel understand and adhere to them. This encompasses security access control, data protection, and incident response. Regular vulnerability assessments and risk management are also crucial, using professional tools and services to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities, and formulating appropriate security strategies based on the findings. By following these guidelines, organizations can enhance the security of their servers and protect sensitive data from unauthorized access.
The purpose of the NIST SP 800-123 is provide an organization an understanding of the security of the server and how to implement those security controls.
The NIST SP 800-123 includes different sections to secure the server including Server Security Planning, Securing the Server Operating Systems, Securing the Server Software, and Maintaining the Security of the Server. This document addresses the common server including the Unix, Linux, and Windows. This document also includes the high-level of steps that could be taken to secure the servers, security planning of the server, the overview of the securing the server’s operating system, how to securely install and configure the server software, and recommendation on maintaining the security server.
I understand the commonly used server operating systems provide the feature of specifying access rights to files, directories, devices, and other computing resources. Administrators can prevent users from making configuration changes that may reduce security. It will limit the attacker’s ability to attack servers or other hosts on the network. Careful setting of access control can deny unauthorized access by personnel. Server administrators can reduce intentional and unintentional security vulnerabilities. Sometimes, the administrator configures the operating system to provide an isolated virtual environment in which the server software will run. Users can only access the virtual environment, separate from the underlying operating system. Limit the execution privileges of most system-related tools to authorized systems.This section covers management practices for servers. Server security is vital to the upkeep of a server. Some of the management techniques are Organizational Information System Security Policy, Configuration/Change Control and Management, Risk Assessment and Management, and Security Awareness and Training. The section also covers what should be included in a system security plan. These plans should cover System identification and controls. Finally, this section laid out the guidelines for federal system security plans, which are more strict. In a federal agency, all information systems must be covered in a system security plan. Other organizations are not required to provide a system security plan for all but are encouraged to do so.
When addressing server security issues, it is an excellent idea to keep in mind 5 information security principles:
Simplicity
Fail-Safe
Complete Mediation
Open Design
Separation of Privilege
Least Privilege
These server security principles are essential as they provide a guiding framework for organizations to establish and maintain secure server environments.
NIST 800-123 provides comprehensive guidance on general server security practices. One key takeaway is the emphasis on the importance of securing servers as they are critical components of an organization’s IT infrastructure. The guide covers various aspects of server security, including physical security, operating system hardening, patch management, and access controls.
One noteworthy aspect is the discussion on securing server applications and services. It highlights the need to minimize the attack surface by disabling unnecessary services, applying security patches promptly, and configuring services securely. Additionally, the guide stresses the importance of monitoring server logs and implementing intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to potential security incidents.
I recognize that building a robust hardened system requires fine polishing of technical details, effective management, and thorough system security planning. Together, these elements form the core of a system security plan, which is an essential building block for enhancing the protection of information system resources. In particular, top executives, such as managers and information owners, are critical to the protection of their information assets. This is because in the event of a system compromise, they will be the user group that will be most affected and suffer the most.
When planning for system security, we need to consider system identification and control measures in an integrated manner to ensure that the information system is fully safeguarded. The system identification section should clearly depict “the system’s critical connections, the system’s purpose, the system’s level of sensitivity, and the system’s deployment environment, which includes the network environment, the system’s location in the network, and its interactions with other systems”. It should also include a set of existing or planned controls to address the protection needs of the information system. These controls cover operational level controls, management level controls, and technical level controls, which together form a strong line of defense for the protection of information systems.
NIST 800-123 presents an good point of view that advises businesses to handle servers that are visible to the public, such web servers, with caution because they could damage their reputation. If the integrity is breached, these servers that are visible to the public may sustain damage. The servers’ physical security needs to be taken into account. This entails taking natural calamities into account, limiting physical access to the servers, controlling the environment, and having redundant power sources and network connectivity.
This article is a general server security guide that describes how organizations should plan for security between servers and applications. I focus on practical measures to help organizations secure their servers such as 1. Update patches and operating systems regularly. 2. Delete unnecessary services, applications, and network protocols. In addition, hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to the network. 4. Delete or disable default user accounts, disable inactive user accounts, and create user groups. 5. Establish a password policy, including password length, complexity, duration, minimum and maximum usage.
Server Security Framework: This guide introduces a server security framework that organizations can use to guide their server security efforts. The framework includes six core areas: identification, protection, detection, response, recovery and monitoring.
Classification of servers: The guide recommends classifying servers according to their roles, functions, and the sensitivity of the data being processed. This helps organizations prioritize security measures based on the risk profile of each server category.
Physical and Environmental security: Similar to the overview, this section describes recommendations for protecting the server hardware and physical environment. It includes measures such as a secure server room, access control and environmental monitoring.
Network Security: This guide provides guidance on configuring network interfaces, firewalls, and routing to protect servers from unauthorized network access. It also covers secure remote access methods and network segmentation.
Access Control: This section details recommendations for managing user accounts, privileges, and authentication mechanisms. It emphasizes the importance of strong passwords, account locking policies, and access controls based on the principle of least privilege.
Audit and Monitoring: This guide discusses the importance of enabling and maintaining logs, as well as performing regular audits and monitoring of server activity. It covers tools and techniques for detecting suspicious or unauthorized behavior.
Software security: This section provides recommendations for installing, configuring, and updating server software securely. It emphasizes the importance of patch management, secure coding practices, and the secure software development lifecycle.
Data protection: The guidance covers measures to encrypt sensitive data, implement access controls on data, and securely store and process data. Data backup and recovery strategies are also discussed.
Recovery Plan: This section provides guidance for developing an incident response plan and a disaster recovery plan. It covers planning for data recovery, server recovery, and business continuity.
Security Management: This guide summarizes recommendations for establishing a security management framework, assigning security responsibilities, and conducting regular security assessments and audits. It stresses the importance of a proactive safety culture and regular training of personnel.
The purpose of this document is to assist organizations in understanding the fundamental activities performed as part of securing and maintaining the security of servers. This document addresses common servers that use general operating systems (OS) such as Unix, Linux, and Windows. The one key point I took from this reading is the User Authenticate Configuration. Enabling authentication involves configuring parts of the OS, firmware, and applications on the server, such as the software that implements a network service. To ensure the appropriate user authentication is in place, organizations should implement authentication and encryption technologies, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) to protect passwords during transmission and reduces the likelihood of spoofing attacks.
The section on the human resources requirements was eye-opening for me, in particular this quote “Appropriate and sufficient human resources are the single most important aspect of effective server security.” An organization can have the most technologically advanced systems and security measures available but it will be ineffective if there are not an appropriate number of staff with the specific skillset to administer the systems. It is also important to think about staffing during the implementation phase, similarly to when security in general needs to be considered. Considerations should include the required number of staff to administer the systems, the skillset required to effectively administer the systems and an assessment of the current available resources. Another important aspect is continual assessment of current staff and training and knowledge enhancement opportunities due to the ever evolving technological landscape and new security threats and vulnerabilities arise. As threat actors become smarter, the IT security professionals have to become smart too.
NIST 800-123 General Server Security Guide describes how to plan for security between servers and applications and provide appropriate safeguards to protect the server operating system and server software. I believe companies should follow the following safeguard controls:
– Update patches and operating systems regularly.
– Remove unnecessary services, applications, and network protocols. In addition, hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to the network.
– Set up user authentication: remove or disable default user accounts, disable inactive user accounts, and create user groups.
– Establish password policies, including password length, complexity, duration, minimum and maximum usage.
The general server security guide comprehensively expounds the various elements of server security, including but not limited to: update and patch management, the principle of minimum rights, firewall and network security, logging and monitoring, user authentication, data protection and encryption, application security, physical security, audit and compliance, etc. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist administrators and operational teams to effectively reduce security risks, and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the data, while maintaining the availability and reliability of the system.
The purpose of this document is to assist organizations in understanding the fundamental activities performed as part of securing and maintaining the security of servers that provide services over network communications as a main function.
The classic model for information security defines three objectives of security: maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Confidentiality refers to protecting information from being accessed by unauthorized parties. Integrity refers to ensuring the authenticity of information—that information is not altered, and that the source of the information is genuine. Availability means that information is accessible by authorized users. Each objective addresses a different aspect of providing protection for information.
A common problem with security controls is that they often make systems less convenient or more difficult to use. When usability is an issue, many users will attempt to circumvent security controls; for example, if passwords must be long and complex, users may write them down. Balancing security, functionality, and usability is often a challenge.
A crucial aspect of evaluating server security lies in conducting thorough tests to ensure the system’s effectiveness. While an organization might invest in a high-end server that theoretically offers robust protection, neglecting to test its functionality could result in costly vulnerabilities. A pivotal component of penetration testing involves gauging human reactions to attack indicators, as human error often poses the greatest challenge in maintaining security. Other advantages of penetration testing include utilizing attacker-favored tools and techniques, identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities, and illustrating that potential threats are not merely hypothetical.
NIST SP 800-123 Guide to General Server Security is a guide developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. It aims to provide system administrators and security professionals with guidance and best practices for securing servers.
The guide covers various aspects of server security, including configuration, network security, application security, access controls, and monitoring. It offers recommendations and best practices for securing server operating systems, such as proper configuration settings, disabling unnecessary services, and keeping software up to date with patches and updates.
In terms of network security, the guide provides guidance on protecting server network connections through the use of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure protocols. It also covers recommendations for securing server applications, including web servers, databases, and email servers. This may involve using secure coding practices, implementing access controls, and regularly updating and patching applications.
Access controls and authentication are also addressed in the guide, with recommendations for implementing strong authentication mechanisms and managing user accounts. It emphasizes the importance of enforcing password policies, using multifactor authentication, and implementing the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.
Another important component covered in the guide is monitoring and logging. It provides recommendations for monitoring server activities, analyzing logs, and detecting and responding to security incidents. This includes setting up logging configurations, analyzing logs for signs of compromise, and implementing an incident response plan.
Overall, NIST SP 800-123 Guide to General Server Security serves as a comprehensive reference for system administrators and security professionals to enhance the security of server systems. It offers practical guidance and best practices to mitigate potential risks and vulnerabilities, ultimately reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security incidents.
NIST SP 800-123 is a General Server Security guide designed to provide organizations with guidance on how to secure their server environments. The guide covers multiple aspects of server security, including physical security, network security, system security, application security, and data security. By following these guidelines, organizations can build a more secure and reliable server environment and reduce potential security risks.
NIST SP 800-123 provides organizations with comprehensive guidance on how to secure their server environments. By following these guidelines, organizations can build a more secure and reliable server environment and reduce potential security risks. These guidelines apply not only to large businesses and organizations, but also to small businesses and individual users. By implementing these security measures, organizations can protect their server environment from unauthorized access, tampering, or destruction, ensuring the normal operation of their business and the security of their data. Provides organizations with comprehensive guidance on how to secure their server environments. By following the guiding principles of physical security, network security, system security, application security, and data security in this guide, organizations can build a more secure and reliable server environment and reduce potential security risks.
What I learned from this reading is organizations should carefully plan and address the security aspects of the deployment of a server. Because it is much more difficult to address security once deployment and implementation have occurred, security should be carefully considered from the initial planning stage. Organizations are more likely to make decisions about configuring computers appropriately and consistently when they develop and use a detailed, well-designed deployment plan. Developing such a plan will support server administrators in making the inevitable tradeoff decisions between usability, performance, and risk. Organizations often fail to consider the human resource requirements for both deployment and operational phases of the server and supporting infrastructure. Organizations should address the following points in a deployment plan:
1. Types of personnel required (e.g., system and server administrators, network administrators,
information systems security officers [ISSO])
2. Skills and training required by assigned personnel
3. Individual (i.e., level of effort required of specific personnel types) and collective staffing (i.e.,
overall level of effort) requirements.
NIST 800-123 addresses general security issues for typical servers. In addition, this document is intended to help organizations install, configure, and maintain secure servers. In my opinion, the most interesting part of this report is the vulnerability scanner. Vulnerability scanners are automated tools used to identify host vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. Many vulnerability scanners also provide information about mitigating discovered vulnerabilities. Vulnerability scanners try to identify vulnerabilities in the scanned host. Vulnerability scanners can help identify outdated software versions, missing patches or system upgrades, and can verify compliance with or deviation from an organization’s security policy. To accomplish this, the vulnerability scanner identifies operating systems, server software, and other major software applications running on the host and matches them to known vulnerabilities in the vulnerability database.
Chun Liu says
One of my takeaways was properly configured resource controls. Commonly used server operating systems provide the ability to specify access rights to files, directories, devices, and other computing resources. Administrators can prevent users from making configuration changes that could reduce security. It will limit an attacker’s ability to attack servers or other hosts on the network. Carefully set access controls can deny personnel unauthorized access. Server administrators can reduce intentional and unintentional security breaches. Sometimes administrators configure the operating system to provide an isolated virtual environment for running server software. Users can access only virtual environments that are independent of the underlying operating system. Restrict the execution privileges of most system-related tools to authorized systems.
Xiaozhi Shi says
The NIST 800-123 covers 17 security-related areas that relate to protecting confidentiality, integrity, availability of federal information systems. This includes all the areas we recognize that is important to information systems such as access control, managers and users must be limited access and have role-based access. Everyone must be training and awareness of security risks on a frequent training basis. All organizations must audit records to monitor controls are effective and implemented correctly. Configuration management makes sure organizations must configure and maintain baseline inventories of everything. By following everything in this guy and all 17 security areas will definitely set most companies up for success.
Guanhua Xiao says
The General Server Security Guide covers a number of aspects to ensure server security. These guidelines are designed to help administrators and operations teams reduce security risks, protect data integrity and confidentiality, and maintain system availability and reliability. Here are some key server security guidelines:
Security updates and patch management; The principle of least authority; Firewall and network security; Logging and monitoring; User and authentication; Data protection and encryption; Application security; Physical security; Security audit and compliance.
Yawen Du says
This guide is intended to help organizations understand how to secure and maintain servers that provide services over network communications. It discusses in detail the need to protect servers and provides recommendations for selecting, implementing, and maintaining the necessary security controls. Among other things, for security policies and processes, the policy establishes clear server security policies and processes and ensures that all relevant personnel understand and follow them. This includes provisions for security access control, data protection, incident response, etc. In terms of vulnerability assessment and risk management, regular security vulnerability assessment and risk management are required to identify potential security risks and vulnerabilities and take appropriate security measures to reduce risks. Professional security tools and services are used to assess the security of servers, and appropriate security strategies are formulated based on the assessment results.
Shijie Yang says
he main function of security testing is to identify threats in the system, and prevent malicious attacks from intruders; which is why security testing such as vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are essential in managing risks, prevent data theft, and making sure there is no unauthorized access. Vulnerability scanning searches and identifies vulnerabilities in networks and applications. Penetration testing methods are that of an attacker – compromising networks and exploiting weak areas to gain access. Periodic scanning using both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing is highly recommended to help prevent attacks on organization’s networks.
Xinyi Peng says
General server security involves implementing measures to protect servers from unauthorized access, data breaches, malware infections, and other cyber threats. Server security is a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and services within an organization. The General Server Security Guide outlines best practices and recommendations to help administrators and operations teams reduce security risks effectively.
Zhang Yunpeng says
This guide aims to assist organizations in securing and maintaining network-connected servers, emphasizing the importance of protecting these servers. It offers recommendations for selecting, implementing, and maintaining security controls. Central to this is the establishment of clear server security policies and processes, ensuring that personnel understand and adhere to them. This encompasses security access control, data protection, and incident response. Regular vulnerability assessments and risk management are also crucial, using professional tools and services to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities, and formulating appropriate security strategies based on the findings. By following these guidelines, organizations can enhance the security of their servers and protect sensitive data from unauthorized access.
Yujie Cao says
The purpose of the NIST SP 800-123 is provide an organization an understanding of the security of the server and how to implement those security controls.
The NIST SP 800-123 includes different sections to secure the server including Server Security Planning, Securing the Server Operating Systems, Securing the Server Software, and Maintaining the Security of the Server. This document addresses the common server including the Unix, Linux, and Windows. This document also includes the high-level of steps that could be taken to secure the servers, security planning of the server, the overview of the securing the server’s operating system, how to securely install and configure the server software, and recommendation on maintaining the security server.
Yuanjun Xie says
I understand the commonly used server operating systems provide the feature of specifying access rights to files, directories, devices, and other computing resources. Administrators can prevent users from making configuration changes that may reduce security. It will limit the attacker’s ability to attack servers or other hosts on the network. Careful setting of access control can deny unauthorized access by personnel. Server administrators can reduce intentional and unintentional security vulnerabilities. Sometimes, the administrator configures the operating system to provide an isolated virtual environment in which the server software will run. Users can only access the virtual environment, separate from the underlying operating system. Limit the execution privileges of most system-related tools to authorized systems.This section covers management practices for servers. Server security is vital to the upkeep of a server. Some of the management techniques are Organizational Information System Security Policy, Configuration/Change Control and Management, Risk Assessment and Management, and Security Awareness and Training. The section also covers what should be included in a system security plan. These plans should cover System identification and controls. Finally, this section laid out the guidelines for federal system security plans, which are more strict. In a federal agency, all information systems must be covered in a system security plan. Other organizations are not required to provide a system security plan for all but are encouraged to do so.
Shuting Zhang says
When addressing server security issues, it is an excellent idea to keep in mind 5 information security principles:
Simplicity
Fail-Safe
Complete Mediation
Open Design
Separation of Privilege
Least Privilege
These server security principles are essential as they provide a guiding framework for organizations to establish and maintain secure server environments.
Hongli Ma says
NIST 800-123 provides comprehensive guidance on general server security practices. One key takeaway is the emphasis on the importance of securing servers as they are critical components of an organization’s IT infrastructure. The guide covers various aspects of server security, including physical security, operating system hardening, patch management, and access controls.
One noteworthy aspect is the discussion on securing server applications and services. It highlights the need to minimize the attack surface by disabling unnecessary services, applying security patches promptly, and configuring services securely. Additionally, the guide stresses the importance of monitoring server logs and implementing intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to potential security incidents.
Shuyi Dong says
I recognize that building a robust hardened system requires fine polishing of technical details, effective management, and thorough system security planning. Together, these elements form the core of a system security plan, which is an essential building block for enhancing the protection of information system resources. In particular, top executives, such as managers and information owners, are critical to the protection of their information assets. This is because in the event of a system compromise, they will be the user group that will be most affected and suffer the most.
When planning for system security, we need to consider system identification and control measures in an integrated manner to ensure that the information system is fully safeguarded. The system identification section should clearly depict “the system’s critical connections, the system’s purpose, the system’s level of sensitivity, and the system’s deployment environment, which includes the network environment, the system’s location in the network, and its interactions with other systems”. It should also include a set of existing or planned controls to address the protection needs of the information system. These controls cover operational level controls, management level controls, and technical level controls, which together form a strong line of defense for the protection of information systems.
Haoran Wang says
NIST 800-123 presents an good point of view that advises businesses to handle servers that are visible to the public, such web servers, with caution because they could damage their reputation. If the integrity is breached, these servers that are visible to the public may sustain damage. The servers’ physical security needs to be taken into account. This entails taking natural calamities into account, limiting physical access to the servers, controlling the environment, and having redundant power sources and network connectivity.
Yiwei Hu says
This article is a general server security guide that describes how organizations should plan for security between servers and applications. I focus on practical measures to help organizations secure their servers such as 1. Update patches and operating systems regularly. 2. Delete unnecessary services, applications, and network protocols. In addition, hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to the network. 4. Delete or disable default user accounts, disable inactive user accounts, and create user groups. 5. Establish a password policy, including password length, complexity, duration, minimum and maximum usage.
Chenhao Zhang says
Server Security Framework: This guide introduces a server security framework that organizations can use to guide their server security efforts. The framework includes six core areas: identification, protection, detection, response, recovery and monitoring.
Classification of servers: The guide recommends classifying servers according to their roles, functions, and the sensitivity of the data being processed. This helps organizations prioritize security measures based on the risk profile of each server category.
Physical and Environmental security: Similar to the overview, this section describes recommendations for protecting the server hardware and physical environment. It includes measures such as a secure server room, access control and environmental monitoring.
Network Security: This guide provides guidance on configuring network interfaces, firewalls, and routing to protect servers from unauthorized network access. It also covers secure remote access methods and network segmentation.
Access Control: This section details recommendations for managing user accounts, privileges, and authentication mechanisms. It emphasizes the importance of strong passwords, account locking policies, and access controls based on the principle of least privilege.
Audit and Monitoring: This guide discusses the importance of enabling and maintaining logs, as well as performing regular audits and monitoring of server activity. It covers tools and techniques for detecting suspicious or unauthorized behavior.
Software security: This section provides recommendations for installing, configuring, and updating server software securely. It emphasizes the importance of patch management, secure coding practices, and the secure software development lifecycle.
Data protection: The guidance covers measures to encrypt sensitive data, implement access controls on data, and securely store and process data. Data backup and recovery strategies are also discussed.
Recovery Plan: This section provides guidance for developing an incident response plan and a disaster recovery plan. It covers planning for data recovery, server recovery, and business continuity.
Security Management: This guide summarizes recommendations for establishing a security management framework, assigning security responsibilities, and conducting regular security assessments and audits. It stresses the importance of a proactive safety culture and regular training of personnel.
Hao Zhang says
The purpose of this document is to assist organizations in understanding the fundamental activities performed as part of securing and maintaining the security of servers. This document addresses common servers that use general operating systems (OS) such as Unix, Linux, and Windows. The one key point I took from this reading is the User Authenticate Configuration. Enabling authentication involves configuring parts of the OS, firmware, and applications on the server, such as the software that implements a network service. To ensure the appropriate user authentication is in place, organizations should implement authentication and encryption technologies, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) to protect passwords during transmission and reduces the likelihood of spoofing attacks.
Chunqi Liu says
The section on the human resources requirements was eye-opening for me, in particular this quote “Appropriate and sufficient human resources are the single most important aspect of effective server security.” An organization can have the most technologically advanced systems and security measures available but it will be ineffective if there are not an appropriate number of staff with the specific skillset to administer the systems. It is also important to think about staffing during the implementation phase, similarly to when security in general needs to be considered. Considerations should include the required number of staff to administer the systems, the skillset required to effectively administer the systems and an assessment of the current available resources. Another important aspect is continual assessment of current staff and training and knowledge enhancement opportunities due to the ever evolving technological landscape and new security threats and vulnerabilities arise. As threat actors become smarter, the IT security professionals have to become smart too.
Yue Wang says
NIST 800-123 General Server Security Guide describes how to plan for security between servers and applications and provide appropriate safeguards to protect the server operating system and server software. I believe companies should follow the following safeguard controls:
– Update patches and operating systems regularly.
– Remove unnecessary services, applications, and network protocols. In addition, hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to the network.
– Set up user authentication: remove or disable default user accounts, disable inactive user accounts, and create user groups.
– Establish password policies, including password length, complexity, duration, minimum and maximum usage.
Xuanwen Zheng says
The general server security guide comprehensively expounds the various elements of server security, including but not limited to: update and patch management, the principle of minimum rights, firewall and network security, logging and monitoring, user authentication, data protection and encryption, application security, physical security, audit and compliance, etc. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist administrators and operational teams to effectively reduce security risks, and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the data, while maintaining the availability and reliability of the system.
Yuming He says
The purpose of this document is to assist organizations in understanding the fundamental activities performed as part of securing and maintaining the security of servers that provide services over network communications as a main function.
The classic model for information security defines three objectives of security: maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Confidentiality refers to protecting information from being accessed by unauthorized parties. Integrity refers to ensuring the authenticity of information—that information is not altered, and that the source of the information is genuine. Availability means that information is accessible by authorized users. Each objective addresses a different aspect of providing protection for information.
A common problem with security controls is that they often make systems less convenient or more difficult to use. When usability is an issue, many users will attempt to circumvent security controls; for example, if passwords must be long and complex, users may write them down. Balancing security, functionality, and usability is often a challenge.
Nana Li says
A crucial aspect of evaluating server security lies in conducting thorough tests to ensure the system’s effectiveness. While an organization might invest in a high-end server that theoretically offers robust protection, neglecting to test its functionality could result in costly vulnerabilities. A pivotal component of penetration testing involves gauging human reactions to attack indicators, as human error often poses the greatest challenge in maintaining security. Other advantages of penetration testing include utilizing attacker-favored tools and techniques, identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities, and illustrating that potential threats are not merely hypothetical.
Zhaomeng Wang says
NIST SP 800-123 Guide to General Server Security is a guide developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. It aims to provide system administrators and security professionals with guidance and best practices for securing servers.
The guide covers various aspects of server security, including configuration, network security, application security, access controls, and monitoring. It offers recommendations and best practices for securing server operating systems, such as proper configuration settings, disabling unnecessary services, and keeping software up to date with patches and updates.
In terms of network security, the guide provides guidance on protecting server network connections through the use of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure protocols. It also covers recommendations for securing server applications, including web servers, databases, and email servers. This may involve using secure coding practices, implementing access controls, and regularly updating and patching applications.
Access controls and authentication are also addressed in the guide, with recommendations for implementing strong authentication mechanisms and managing user accounts. It emphasizes the importance of enforcing password policies, using multifactor authentication, and implementing the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.
Another important component covered in the guide is monitoring and logging. It provides recommendations for monitoring server activities, analyzing logs, and detecting and responding to security incidents. This includes setting up logging configurations, analyzing logs for signs of compromise, and implementing an incident response plan.
Overall, NIST SP 800-123 Guide to General Server Security serves as a comprehensive reference for system administrators and security professionals to enhance the security of server systems. It offers practical guidance and best practices to mitigate potential risks and vulnerabilities, ultimately reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security incidents.
Haixu Yao says
NIST SP 800-123 is a General Server Security guide designed to provide organizations with guidance on how to secure their server environments. The guide covers multiple aspects of server security, including physical security, network security, system security, application security, and data security. By following these guidelines, organizations can build a more secure and reliable server environment and reduce potential security risks.
NIST SP 800-123 provides organizations with comprehensive guidance on how to secure their server environments. By following these guidelines, organizations can build a more secure and reliable server environment and reduce potential security risks. These guidelines apply not only to large businesses and organizations, but also to small businesses and individual users. By implementing these security measures, organizations can protect their server environment from unauthorized access, tampering, or destruction, ensuring the normal operation of their business and the security of their data. Provides organizations with comprehensive guidance on how to secure their server environments. By following the guiding principles of physical security, network security, system security, application security, and data security in this guide, organizations can build a more secure and reliable server environment and reduce potential security risks.
Yue Ma says
What I learned from this reading is organizations should carefully plan and address the security aspects of the deployment of a server. Because it is much more difficult to address security once deployment and implementation have occurred, security should be carefully considered from the initial planning stage. Organizations are more likely to make decisions about configuring computers appropriately and consistently when they develop and use a detailed, well-designed deployment plan. Developing such a plan will support server administrators in making the inevitable tradeoff decisions between usability, performance, and risk. Organizations often fail to consider the human resource requirements for both deployment and operational phases of the server and supporting infrastructure. Organizations should address the following points in a deployment plan:
1. Types of personnel required (e.g., system and server administrators, network administrators,
information systems security officers [ISSO])
2. Skills and training required by assigned personnel
3. Individual (i.e., level of effort required of specific personnel types) and collective staffing (i.e.,
overall level of effort) requirements.
Hao Li says
NIST 800-123 addresses general security issues for typical servers. In addition, this document is intended to help organizations install, configure, and maintain secure servers. In my opinion, the most interesting part of this report is the vulnerability scanner. Vulnerability scanners are automated tools used to identify host vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. Many vulnerability scanners also provide information about mitigating discovered vulnerabilities. Vulnerability scanners try to identify vulnerabilities in the scanned host. Vulnerability scanners can help identify outdated software versions, missing patches or system upgrades, and can verify compliance with or deviation from an organization’s security policy. To accomplish this, the vulnerability scanner identifies operating systems, server software, and other major software applications running on the host and matches them to known vulnerabilities in the vulnerability database.