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Security

Cyber security audit and server hardening.

A security audit checks how your servers are configured against recognized benchmarks such as the CIS Benchmarks, and hardening is the work of fixing what it finds. We review your servers, explain the findings in plain English, and apply the fixes — prioritizing what an attacker could actually reach, and changing things carefully so your systems keep running.
What you get
  • Configuration reviewAgainst CIS-style benchmarks
  • Prioritized findingsReachable risks first
  • Fixes appliedBy us, carefully
  • Plain-English reportFor owners, not just IT
The short answer

What is a server security audit?

A server security audit is a defensive review of how your servers are set up: who can log in, what is exposed to the internet, what is out of date, and whether you would notice if something went wrong. We compare each server with recognized hardening benchmarks such as the CIS Benchmarks and note every gap.

Our work is defensive only. We review configuration from the inside, with your permission and access, and then fix it. We don’t offer penetration testing or attack simulations. What we focus on is making sure the doors an attacker would try are closed, monitored and kept that way.

What we review

The usual weak spots.

AccessLogins, keys, admin rights and remote access.
ExposureWhich services are reachable from the internet.
UpdatesMissing patches and unsupported software.
Web layerWeb server, PHP and application settings.
BackupsWhether they exist, are off-site and restore.
MonitoringWhether anyone would notice an incident.
Prioritizing

Why do you fix reachable risks first?

A benchmark can list hundreds of settings. Not all of them matter equally. A database port open to the internet is urgent; a setting that only matters to someone already logged in as an administrator is not. We rank every finding by whether an attacker could actually reach it, so the first fixes remove the biggest real risks.
  • Internet-facing services and logins reviewed first
  • Each finding rated by real-world risk, not just by the checklist
  • Changes that could disrupt users planned with you
  • Settings that add work but no real protection explained, not forced
Typical first fixes
  • Remote accessKeys only, limited users
  • FirewallOnly needed ports open
  • PatchingMissing updates applied
  • Origin lockSites reachable only via Cloudflare
In practice

What does hardening change on a typical server?

Mostly small, unglamorous settings that close common doors. Remote logins switched to keys only, with password and direct administrator logins turned off. Firewall rules reduced to the ports a service actually needs. Databases and admin panels taken off the public internet. Old software removed and missing updates applied, with live kernel patching so the server stays protected between reboots. Websites put behind Cloudflare, with the server only accepting traffic from it. Logs kept and watched, so unusual activity is noticed. Each change is explained in the report before it is made.

How it works

How does a security audit and hardening project run?

01ScopeWhich servers and services are included, agreed in writing.
02ReviewEach server checked against the benchmark, from the inside.
03ReportFindings in plain English, ranked by real risk.
04HardenFixes applied step by step, each with a way back.
05Re-checkThe audit run again to confirm each fix.
The report

What does the audit report look like?

Each finding is written so an owner can understand it and an engineer can act on it.
For each findingWhat it tells you
What we foundThe setting or gap, in plain words.
Why it mattersWhat an attacker could do with it, if anything.
PriorityFix now, fix soon, or optional.
The fixWhat we will change and whether it affects anyone.
StatusOpen, fixed or accepted by you, updated as we work.
FAQ

Questions we get asked

Will hardening break anything?
We change things carefully, one step at a time, with a way back, and we focus on what attackers can reach rather than ticking every box.
Is this a one-off or ongoing?
Either. Many clients follow the audit with a managed plan so the baseline stays in place.
Do you do penetration testing?
No. Our security work is defensive: configuration audits against recognized benchmarks, then hardening and monitoring. If you need a penetration test for a contract or certification, that is a separate specialist service.
What are the CIS Benchmarks?
Published, consensus-based configuration guides from the Center for Internet Security, covering operating systems, web servers, databases and more. They are a widely used reference for what a securely configured server looks like.
Which servers can you audit?
Linux servers — Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and similar — including cPanel and virtualization hosts, on any cloud or in your own data centre. We don’t audit Windows servers.
Do you need full access to our servers?
We need administrator access to review configuration properly. Access is agreed with you, used only for the audit and the fixes you approve, and can be removed as soon as the work is done.
How do you keep servers secure after the audit?
On a managed plan we keep the baseline in place: planned updates, live kernel patching, malware scanning and a web firewall, monitoring and a monthly report of what changed.
We already have a firewall. Isn’t that enough?
A firewall is one layer. Most real incidents start somewhere else: a weak or shared login, an outdated plugin or package, a forgotten service, or backups nobody checked. The audit looks at all of these together, so one strong layer isn’t hiding several weak ones.
Something else on your mind? Ask us directly →
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