# CIS Hardening CIS Hardening refers to the process of implementing security configurations that align with the benchmarks set forth by the [Center for Internet Security] (CIS). These [benchmarks] are a set of best practices and guidelines designed to secure various software and hardware systems, including Kubernetes clusters. The primary goal of CIS hardening is to reduce the attack surface and enhance the overall security posture of an environment by enforcing configurations that are known to protect against common vulnerabilities and threats. ## Why is CIS Hardening Important for Kubernetes? Kubernetes, by its nature, is a complex system with many components interacting in a distributed environment. This complexity can introduce numerous security risks if not properly managed such as unauthorised access, data breaches and service disruption. CIS hardening for Kubernetes focuses on configuring various components of a Kubernetes cluster to meet the security standards specified in the [CIS Kubernetes Benchmark]. ## Apply CIS Hardening to {{product}} If you would like to apply CIS hardening to your cluster see our [how-to guide]. [benchmarks]: https://www.cisecurity.org/cis-benchmarks [Center for Internet Security]: https://www.cisecurity.org/ [CIS Kubernetes Benchmark]: https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/kubernetes [how-to guide]: ../howto/cis-hardening.md