Overview#
Preconfigured system image with security settings applied by default. Reduces setup drift and accelerates secure deployments for servers and workstations.
Core objectives#
- Establish shared definitions of Hardened Build for security, engineering, and leadership teams.
- Connect Hardened Build activities to measurable risk reduction and resilience goals.
- Provide onboarding notes so new team members can quickly understand how Hardened Build works here.
Implementation notes#
- Identify the primary owner for Hardened Build, the data sources involved, and the systems affected.
- Document the minimum viable process, tooling, and runbooks that keep Hardened Build healthy.
- Map Hardened Build practices to standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF, or CIS Controls.
Operational signals#
- Leading indicators: early warnings that Hardened Build might degrade (e.g., backlog growth, noisy alerts, or missed SLAs).
- Lagging indicators: realized impact that shows Hardened Build failed or needs investment (e.g., incidents, audit findings).
- Feedback loops: retrospectives and metrics reviews that tune Hardened Build continuously.
Related practices#
- Align Hardened Build with defense-in-depth planning, threat modeling, and disaster recovery tests.
- Communicate updates to stakeholders through concise briefs, dashboards, and internal FAQs.
- Pair Hardened Build improvements with tabletop exercises to validate expectations.