Hardening Targets for Security+
Short answer
Hardening starts with least functionality: remove or disable what the resource does not need, protect what must remain, and make administrative access accountable. Mobile devices often need screen locks, encryption, OS update enforcement, app controls, and remote wipe capability. Workstations need patching, host firewall settings, endpoint protection, standard user privileges, and removal of unnecessary local services. Servers need role-based minimization; a database server should not also expose unrelated web, file, or remote management services.
Why it appears on the exam
SY0-701 4.1: Identify hardening considerations for mobile devices, workstations, switches, routers, cloud infrastructure, servers, ICS/SCADA, embedded systems, RTOS, and IoT.
Key concepts
Concept 1
Required terms
hardening: reducing unnecessary exposure by securely configuring a resource for its role. attack surface: the set of reachable services, interfaces, accounts, software, and functions that could be abused. mobile devices: phones, tablets, and similar portable endpoints that need device controls and data protection. workstations: user endpoints that need secure local configuration, patching, least functionality, and user privilege control.
Example
A workstation hardening task removes local administrator rights from standard users, enables host firewall settings, and disables an unused remote access service.
Concept 2
How Hardening Targets works
Hardening starts with least functionality: remove or disable what the resource does not need, protect what must remain, and make administrative access accountable. Mobile devices often need screen locks, encryption, OS update enforcement, app controls, and remote wipe capability. Workstations need patching, host firewall settings, endpoint protection, standard user privileges, and removal of unnecessary local services. Servers need role-based minimization; a database server should not also expose unrelated web, file, or remote management services.
Example
A router hardening task disables password-based remote management from the internet, uses a secure management protocol, restricts management access to an admin subnet, and stores configuration backups securely.
Concept 3
Common confusion
Hardening is often confused with vulnerability remediation. Patching a known flaw can be part of hardening, but hardening is broader: it reduces unnecessary exposure before and after specific vulnerabilities are known.
Example
An IoT camera cannot run an endpoint agent. The best hardening path may be changing default credentials, updating firmware, disabling cloud features not needed, and placing it on a segmented network.
Concept 4
What to recognize
Match a hardening action to a target type, such as router, workstation, cloud infrastructure, IoT device, or ICS/SCADA system; Choose least functionality, secure management access, disabling defaults, segmentation, or controlled updates based on scenario cues; Recognize that embedded systems, RTOS, IoT, and ICS/SCADA may need compensating controls when normal endpoint controls are unavailable; Distinguish hardening a device from tracking an asset or running a vulnerability management program.
Example
An ICS controller requires vendor approval before updates. Hardening may rely on tested configuration, isolated management, strict change windows, and network segmentation rather than frequent untested patching.
Sample questions
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Q1.A security team sees this situation: A workstation hardening task removes local administrator rights from standard users, enables host firewall settings, and disables an unused remote access service. Which concept applies?
Q2.Read this Security+ situation: A router hardening task disables password-based remote management from the internet, uses a secure management protocol, restricts management access to an admin subnet, and stores configuration backups securely. What is the best match?
Q3.A Security+ scenario describes this situation: An IoT camera cannot run an endpoint agent. The best hardening path may be changing default credentials, updating firmware, disabling cloud features not needed, and placing it on a segmented network. Which answer fits best?
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