Document Classification: Internal
Version: 1.0
Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited
Standard Operating Procedure - HARDENING
Version: 1.0
Document No.: KPDCL/ISMS/SOP-
Initial effective date:
New effective date (post review)
Copyright:
This document is the exclusive property of KPDCL, and its contents must not be communicated
to unauthorized persons or person outside the company without written consent from the CISO.
Document Classification: Internal
Version: 1.0
0: Document Control
0.1: Version History:
Sr. Date Version Description of change Owner Approved by
No
1 V1.0 Initial Release KPDCL CISO
0.2: Authorization:
Prepared by Reviewed By Approved By (Apex Committee)
Empanelled Consultants: IT Manager
Essential Infosec Pvt. Ltd.
0.3: Distribution List:
Sr. No Department or Function Name Distribution Medium
1 IT Email
Copyright:
This document is the exclusive property of KPDCL, and its contents must not be communicated
to unauthorized persons or person outside the company without written consent from the CISO.
Document Classification: Internal
Version: 1.0
1. Introduction
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for hardening outlines the systematic process
of securing information systems and infrastructure components to reduce
vulnerabilities and minimize the risk of security breaches. This SOP is aligned with
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requirements and aims to ensure that all systems and components
within the KPDCL’s scope of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) are
adequately hardened.
2. Scope
This procedure applies to all information systems, servers, network devices, databases,
and other infrastructure components managed and maintained by the KPDCL. It
encompasses both internal and external systems, including cloud-based services and
third-party applications that are within the scope of the ISMS.
3. Responsibilities
o Information Security Manager: Oversees the implementation of hardening
measures and ensures compliance with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standards.
o System Administrators: Implement hardening measures on information
systems and infrastructure components in accordance with this SOP.
o IT Security Team: Provides guidance, support, and expertise in implementing
and reviewing hardening measures.
4. Procedure
a. Asset Identification and Classification:
o Identify all assets within the scope of the ISMS, including hardware, software,
and data repositories.
o Classify assets based on their criticality and sensitivity to determine the level of
hardening required.
b. Risk Assessment:
o Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities, threats,
and potential impacts on assets.
o Prioritize risks based on their likelihood and impact on the confidentiality,
integrity, and availability of assets.
Copyright:
This document is the exclusive property of KPDCL, and its contents must not be communicated
to unauthorized persons or person outside the company without written consent from the CISO.
Document Classification: Internal
Version: 1.0
c. Selection of Hardening Guidelines:
o Choose appropriate hardening guidelines and standards, such as CIS
benchmarks, NIST guidelines, vendor-specific recommendations, or industry
best practices.
o Consider the specific requirements and characteristics of each asset when
selecting hardening guidelines.
d. Development of Hardening Baseline:
o Develop a baseline configuration for each asset based on the selected hardening
guidelines.
o Customize baseline configurations to address specific security requirements and
operational needs.
e. Implementation of Hardening Measures:
o Disable unnecessary services, ports, and protocols to reduce the attack surface.
o Apply security patches, updates, and hotfixes to address known vulnerabilities.
o Configure access controls, user permissions, and authentication mechanisms to
enforce least privilege.
o Enable encryption for data at rest and data in transit to protect sensitive
information.
o Implement firewall rules, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and endpoint
security solutions to monitor and block malicious activities.
o Configure logging, auditing, and monitoring mechanisms to detect and respond
to security incidents.
f. Documentation and Configuration Management:
o Document all hardening measures implemented for each asset, including
baseline configurations, changes made, and rationale behind each decision.
o Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of configuration settings, patches, and
updates applied to assets.
o Establish configuration management processes to track changes, revisions, and
versions of configuration files and settings.
g. Testing and Validation:
o Conduct testing and validation of the hardened configurations to ensure that
they do not adversely impact the functionality, performance, or usability of
assets.
Copyright:
This document is the exclusive property of KPDCL, and its contents must not be communicated
to unauthorized persons or person outside the company without written consent from the CISO.
Document Classification: Internal
Version: 1.0
o Use automated scanning tools, vulnerability assessments, and penetration
testing to identify and remediate any remaining security issues.
h. Review and Approval:
o Review the implemented hardening measures with the IT security team, system
administrators, and other relevant stakeholders.
o Obtain approval from the Information Security Manager or designated authority
before deploying hardened configurations into production environments.
i. Ongoing Monitoring and Maintenance:
o Establish continuous monitoring mechanisms to track the effectiveness of
hardening measures and detect any deviations from baseline configurations.
o Conduct periodic reviews, audits, and assessments to identify emerging threats,
vulnerabilities, and compliance gaps.
o Implement a proactive maintenance schedule to apply security patches, updates,
and configuration changes in a timely manner.
5. Records and Documentation
o Maintain comprehensive records of hardening activities, including baseline
configurations, change logs, testing results, and approvals.
o Document risk assessments, vulnerability assessments, and mitigation strategies
for each asset.
o Retain evidence of compliance with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requirements and any
relevant regulatory or industry standards.
6. Training and Awareness
o Provide specialized training and awareness programs to system administrators,
IT personnel, and other relevant staff members involved in implementing and
maintaining hardening measures.
o Raise awareness about the importance of security hardening, best practices, and
potential risks associated with unsecured systems and infrastructure.
7. Review and Continuous Improvement
o Conduct regular reviews and evaluations of the effectiveness of hardening
measures against evolving threats and vulnerabilities.
o Identify opportunities for continuous improvement based on lessons learned
from security incidents, audits, and feedback from stakeholders.
Copyright:
This document is the exclusive property of KPDCL, and its contents must not be communicated
to unauthorized persons or person outside the company without written consent from the CISO.
Document Classification: Internal
Version: 1.0
o Update the SOP and hardening guidelines accordingly to address emerging
threats, changes in technology, and organizational requirements.
8. References
o ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard
o Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks
o National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines
o Vendor-specific documentation and recommendations
o Industry-specific best practices and standards
Copyright:
This document is the exclusive property of KPDCL, and its contents must not be communicated
to unauthorized persons or person outside the company without written consent from the CISO.
