Next Steps to Harden the Device

Log files show the admin user has logged into a public-facing device on several occasions in the evening.

None of the technicians admit to doing any after-hours work, and the password has been changed several times but failed to prevent the logins.

Which of the following should be the NEXT step to attempt to harden the device?

A.

Disable unused ports.

B.

Reset the two-factor token.

C.

Disable virtual ports.

D.

Upgrade the firmware.

A.

The situation described in the question suggests that there might be a security breach on the public-facing device. The admin user logging into the device after working hours without any legitimate reason could be a sign of malicious activity. The fact that the password has been changed several times but failed to prevent the logins further supports this theory. Therefore, the next step to attempt to harden the device should be focused on improving the security of the device.

Option A, "Disable unused ports," may be a valid step in improving the security of the device, but it does not directly address the issue of the admin user logging into the device after working hours. This option may be useful in preventing unauthorized access through unused ports, but it does not provide any protection against attacks that exploit valid access methods.

Option B, "Reset the two-factor token," assumes that the admin user has been using two-factor authentication to log into the device. If this is not the case, this option would not be applicable. Even if two-factor authentication was used, resetting the token may not prevent unauthorized access if the admin user's credentials have already been compromised. This option may be helpful in improving security, but it should not be the first choice.

Option C, "Disable virtual ports," is not directly relevant to the situation described in the question. Virtual ports are typically used in virtualization environments and are not relevant to public-facing devices.

Option D, "Upgrade the firmware," is the best answer among the options provided. Upgrading the firmware can address security vulnerabilities that may have been exploited by the attacker. Additionally, upgrading the firmware can provide new security features that may prevent similar attacks in the future. It is important to note that upgrading the firmware should be done carefully and thoroughly tested before deployment to avoid causing any issues.

In conclusion, the best next step to attempt to harden the device is to upgrade the firmware. The other options may also improve the security of the device, but they are not directly related to the issue of the admin user logging into the device after working hours.