Host Audit / Server Hardening
Servers are the foundation of every IT infrastructure – but especially at the operating system level, small misconfigurations or missing updates can leave behind major security gaps.
A classic infrastructure penetration test uncovers many attack surfaces, but reaches its limits when testing individual hosts. Outdated software, faulty update processes or deviations from common standards often remain undetected – and can become critical risks. This is where a targeted host audit comes in.
Our Services
We perform host audits at the operating system level, with which we comprehensively check the security of individual servers. We analyze configuration, patch level and installed software for vulnerabilities and compare them with established standards.
Using administrative access, we audit server hardening using a white-box approach. This allows vulnerabilities to be identified more quickly and accurately than with purely network-based tests. We combine automated tests with manual analyses, based on the best practices of the Center for Internet Security (CIS).
Checkpoints
- Review of installed software for vulnerabilities (including components not accessible from the network side)
- Comparison of the server configuration with CIS best practices
- Investigation of outdated versions and faulty update processes (e.g., services that have not been restarted)
- Evaluation of internal virus databases and Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs), which are often not part of regular updates
- Creation of an overview of all deviations and their potential hazards
- Detailed results report with proposed measures in the desired format
- Additional tabular listing of all hardening measures for simple machine processing
Your Benefit
With a host audit, you receive a clear and detailed assessment of your servers' security situation.
You benefit from a practical analysis that exposes vulnerabilities before they become points of attack. The results not only provide concrete recommendations for action, but also a reliable basis for long-term security strategies.
- Holistic testing at the operating system level
- Combination of manual and automated analysis
- Faster and more precise identification of vulnerable services than with network tests
- Validated results with clear risk assessment
- Results report plus tabular overview for direct implementation and further processing