Operating System and Application Hardening Report for INFT5033 Course

This report delves into the critical domain of operating system and application hardening, focusing on securing systems against cyber threats. It begins with an introduction to the concept of hardening, emphasizing its importance in mitigating risks associated with modern industrial control systems and network environments. The report then examines specific hardening techniques for the Windows framework, including the use of AppLocker to control application execution, the Windows Firewall for network security, and PowerShell for automation and configuration management. It covers various aspects of configuration administration, such as Group Policy. The report also addresses application hardening strategies. The report offers recommendations for implementing these measures. Finally, it concludes with a summary of the key findings and references relevant sources. The report provides a comprehensive guide to strengthening operating systems and applications against vulnerabilities.