create CIS hardening checklist using excel for vmware esxi 8.0
Pre-Installation Preparation
- Check VMware's hardware compatibility list for ESXi 8.0
- Ensure CPU, memory, and storage meet minimum requirements
- Access BIOS settings during boot process
- Enable virtualization technology
- Adjust power management settings
- Visit hardware manufacturer's website for updates
- Download and install latest firmware versions
- Determine network and storage needs for ESXi deployment
- Allocate IP addresses and configure VLANs
- Ensure storage is properly provisioned and accessible
- Use backup software to create full VM backups
- Copy important data to external storage
- Check CPU, memory, and storage requirements
- Ensure hardware virtualization support is enabled
- Review VMware's compatibility guide
- Check vendor websites for compatibility updates
- Download latest drivers from hardware manufacturers
- Check for any pending firmware updates
- Consult with software vendors for ESXi 8.0 compatibility
- Test third-party software in a non-production environment
- Identify critical data and configurations to backup
- Establish backup schedule and retention policy
- Check VMware security guidelines and best practices
- Ensure compliance with organizational security policies
- Communicate network and storage requirements to respective teams
- Collaborate on configuration changes and testing
- Identify VMs to be migrated or upgraded
- Develop migration plan and timeline
- Record any unique configurations or settings
- Create documentation for reference during installation
Installation and Initial Configuration
- Follow VMware documentation for ESXi 8.0 installation
- Select recommended installation settings during setup
- Access ESXi host console or web interface
- Navigate to network settings and enter IP address and DNS information
- Access storage settings in ESXi interface
- Create datastores and set up storage policies as needed
- Access user management in ESXi interface
- Create user accounts with strong passwords
- Access SSH settings in ESXi interface
- Enable SSH for remote management access
- Access lockdown mode settings in ESXi interface
- Enable lockdown mode to restrict direct access
- Access NTP settings in ESXi interface
- Configure NTP server for time synchronization
- Access secure boot settings in ESXi interface
- Enable secure boot for enhanced security
- Access firewall settings in ESXi interface
- Create and configure firewall rules to restrict network access
- Access SNMP settings in ESXi interface
- Configure SNMP settings for monitoring and alerting
- Access audit logging settings in ESXi interface
- Enable audit logging for tracking changes and events
Security Hardening
- Identify and list all unused services and daemons on the ESXi host.
- Disable or stop the identified unused services and daemons.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the Security Profile section and enable Lockdown Mode.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the Firewall section and configure rules to allow or block specific network traffic.
- Check for the latest security patches and updates from VMware's official website.
- Download and install the necessary patches and updates on the ESXi host.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the Logging and Monitoring settings to configure log levels and monitoring options.
- Set password complexity requirements such as minimum length, special characters, and expiration.
- Enforce password changes periodically for user accounts.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the SSH settings and enable restrictions and two-factor authentication.
- Access the BIOS settings of the ESXi host.
- Enable Secure Boot option to prevent unauthorized software from running during boot.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the Secure Boot settings and enable the feature to protect against firmware attacks.
- Create different user roles with specific permissions for sensitive operations.
- Assign users to the appropriate roles to restrict access accordingly.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the SSH settings and enable Secure Shell for secure remote management.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the SNMP settings and configure the necessary parameters for monitoring and alerting.
- Access the ESXi host through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Navigate to the Security Profile section and enable Automatic Lockdown Mode.
- Enable encryption features such as VM Encryption or vSAN Encryption.
- Configure encryption settings for data at rest on the ESXi host.
- Access the virtual machine settings through vSphere Client or vCenter Server.
- Enable Secure Boot option for virtual machines to protect against malware attacks.
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