How can you secure operating systems in high-security environments?

1 Update and patch regularly

One of the most basic and effective ways to secure operating systems is to keep them updated and patched with the latest security fixes and enhancements. Operating system vendors often release updates and patches to address known vulnerabilities, bugs, and performance issues. By applying these updates and patches, you can reduce the risk of exploitation by attackers who exploit outdated or unpatched systems. You should also enable automatic updates and patches whenever possible, or use a centralized management tool to monitor and deploy them across your network.

2 Harden the configuration

Another way to secure operating systems is to harden the configuration settings and options to minimize the attack surface and reduce the exposure to threats. Hardening the configuration involves disabling or removing unnecessary features, services, accounts, ports, protocols, and applications that are not required for the system's function or purpose. It also involves enforcing strict security policies and controls, such as password complexity, user privileges, firewall rules, encryption standards, and audit logs. You should also use a secure baseline or template to configure your operating systems, and regularly review and audit the configuration for compliance and deviations.

3 Use antivirus and antimalware software

Even with updated and hardened operating systems, you still need to protect them from viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, and other malicious software that can compromise your system's security and performance. You should use reputable and reliable antivirus and antimalware software to scan, detect, and remove any potential threats from your operating systems. You should also keep your antivirus and antimalware software updated with the latest definitions and signatures, and run periodic scans to ensure your system's cleanliness. You should also avoid opening or downloading suspicious or unknown files, links, or attachments that could contain malware.

4 Implement multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security technique that requires users to provide more than one piece of evidence to verify their identity and access to a system. MFA typically combines something you know (such as a password or PIN), something you have (such as a token or smart card), and something you are (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition). By implementing MFA, you can enhance the security of your operating systems and prevent unauthorized access by attackers who may have stolen or guessed your credentials. You should also limit the number of login attempts and lockout accounts after failed attempts.

5 Encrypt data and communications

Encryption is a process of transforming data and communications into unreadable formats that can only be deciphered by authorized parties who have the key. Encryption can protect the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of your data and communications from unauthorized access, modification, or interception. You should encrypt your data and communications at rest and in transit, using strong encryption algorithms and protocols, such as AES, RSA, SSL, and TLS. You should also store and manage your encryption keys securely, and avoid using weak or default keys.

6 Monitor and respond to incidents

Finally, to secure your operating systems, you need to monitor and respond to any security incidents or anomalies that may occur on your systems. You should use tools and techniques, such as intrusion detection and prevention systems, security information and event management systems, network traffic analysis, and log analysis, to detect and alert any suspicious or malicious activities on your operating systems. You should also have a security incident response plan and team, who can quickly investigate, contain, eradicate, and recover from any security incidents, and report and document the lessons learned and recommendations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?