1. Configuring AAA requires four basic steps: 1.Enable AAA (new-model). 2.Configure security server network parameters. 3.Define one or more method lists for AAA authentication. 4.Apply the method lists to a particular interface or line.

2. Verify that SSH access is configured. Verify that HTTP access is disabled Verify that explicitly defined protocols allowed for incoming and outgoing sessions. Verify that access-class ACLs are used to control the sources from which sessions are going to be permitted. Verify idle session timeout

3. As a security best practice, any unnecessary service must be disabled. By default, TCP and UDP small services are disabled in IOS software releases 12.0 and later. See reference material for full listing service that should be disabled. Review configuration files to verify that unnecessary services have been disabled.

4. The commands tcp−keepalives−in and tcp−keepalives−out enable a device to send/receive TCP keep alives for TCP sessions. This ensures that the device on the remote end of the connection is still accessible and that half−open or orphaned connections are removed from the local Cisco device. Review the config file to verify that keepalives have been configured.

5. If NTP is used, it is important to explicitly configure a trusted time source. Accurate and reliable time is required for syslog purposes, such as during forensic investigations of potential attacks. Review the configuration to verify the following: Router has been configured to be a NTP client The NTP source interface has been configured One or more NTP servers have been configured. ACL has been established to permit NTP to device.

6. SNMP provides information on that status or condition of network devices. SNMPv3 provides secure access to devices by authenticating and optionally encrypting packets over the network. Community strings are passwords that are applied to an IOS device to restrict access. Default community string for read−only “public” Default community string for read-write “private”

7. Community strings should be treated like a password, chose carefully and change at regular intervals. An ACL can be applied that further restricts SNMP access to a select group of source IP addresses Verify that SNMPv3 is implemented with encryption. Verify that ACLs are used to restrict access

8. Event logging provides visibility into the operation of a Cisco IOS device and the network into which it is deployed. Each log message generated by Cisco device is assigned a severity level, 0 (emergency) – 7(debug).