NetBackup and Veritas Appliances Hardening Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): Appliances (10.3, 5.3, 4.0, 3.2), NetBackup & Alta Data Protection (10.3, 5.3, 4.0, 3.2)
Platform: Flex Appliance OS,NetBackup Appliance OS,NetBackup Flex Scale OS,Linux,UNIX,Windows
  1. Top recommendations to improve your NetBackup and Veritas appliances security posture
    1.  
      Introduction
    2.  
      Keeping all systems and software updated
    3.  
      Enabling multifactor authentication
    4.  
      Enabling multiperson authorization
    5.  
      Increasing the security level
    6.  
      Implementing an immutable data vault
    7.  
      Securing credentials
    8.  
      Reducing network exposure
    9.  
      Enabling encryption
    10.  
      Enabling catalog protection
    11.  
      Enabling malware scanning and anomaly detection
    12.  
      Enabling security observability
    13.  
      Restricting user access
    14.  
      Configuring a sign-in banner
  2. Steps to protect Flex Appliance
    1.  
      About Flex Appliance hardening
    2. Managing multifactor authentication
      1.  
        Configuring or reconfiguring multifactor authentication
      2.  
        Enforcing multifactor authentication
    3.  
      Configuring the multi-factor authentication on NetBackup primary and media server instance
    4.  
      Configuring the multi-factor authentication on NetBackup WORM storage server instance
    5. Managing single sign-on (SSO)
      1.  
        Managing identity providers (IDPs)
      2.  
        Importing single sign-on (SSO) users
    6.  
      Managing user authentication with smart cards or digital certificates
    7. About lockdown mode
      1.  
        Changing the lockdown mode
    8.  
      Using network access control
    9.  
      Using an external certificate
    10.  
      Forwarding logs
    11.  
      Creating a NetBackup WORM storage server instance
    12. Configuring an isolated recovery environment using the web UI
      1.  
        Configuring the allowed subnets
      2.  
        Configuring the reverse connections
      3.  
        Configuring the reverse replication schedule
      4.  
        Adding a replication operation to SLP at the production primary server
    13.  
      Protecting the NetBackup catalog on a WORM storage server
    14.  
      Using a sign-in banner
  3. Steps to protect NetBackup Appliance
    1.  
      About NetBackup Appliance hardening
    2.  
      About multifactor authentication
    3. About single sign-on (SSO) authentication and authorization
      1.  
        Configure single sign-on (SSO) for a NetBackup Appliance
    4. About authentication using smart cards and digital certificates
      1.  
        2FA
      2.  
        Smart card Authentication for NetBackup Web UI
      3.  
        Smart card authentication for NetBackup Appliance Web UI
      4.  
        Smart card authentication for NetBackup Appliance Shell Menu
      5.  
        Configure role-based access control
      6.  
        Configure authentication for a smart card or digital certificate for the NetBackup Web UI
    5.  
      Disable user access to the NetBackup appliance operating system
    6.  
      About Network Access Control
    7. About data encryption
      1.  
        KMS support
    8.  
      FIPS 140-2 conformance for NetBackup Appliance
    9.  
      About implementing external certificates
    10.  
      About antimalware protection
    11. About forwarding logs to an external server
      1.  
        Uploading certificates for TLS
      2.  
        Enabling log forwarding
    12.  
      Creating the appliance login banner
  4. Steps to protect NetBackup
    1.  
      About NetBackup hardening
    2. About multifactor authentication
      1.  
        Configure multifactor authentication for your user account
      2.  
        Enforce multifactor authentication for all users
    3. Configure NetBackup for single sign-on (SSO)
      1.  
        Configure the SAML KeyStore
      2.  
        Configure the SAML keystore and add and enable the IDP configuration
      3.  
        Enroll the NetBackup primary server with the IDP
    4. Configure user authentication with smart cards or digital certificates
      1.  
        Configure smart card authentication with a domain
      2.  
        Configure smart card authentication without a domain
    5. Workflow to configure multi-person authorization for NetBackup operations
      1.  
        NetBackup operations that need multi-person authorization
      2.  
        RBAC roles and permissions for multi-person authorization
      3.  
        Configure multi-person authorization
    6. Access codes
      1.  
        Request CLI access through web UI authentication
      2.  
        Approve the CLI access request of another user
    7. Workflow to configure immutable and indelible data
      1.  
        About configuring disk pool storage
      2.  
        Use WORM setting
      3.  
        Creating a backup policy
    8. Add a configuration for an external CMS server
      1.  
        Add a credential for CyberArk
    9. Configuring an isolated recovery environment on a NetBackup BYO media server
      1.  
        Configuring A.I.R. for replicating backup images from production environment to IRE BYO environment
    10. About FIPS support in NetBackup
      1.  
        Enable FIPS mode on NetBackup during installation
      2.  
        Enable FIPS mode on a NetBackup host after installation
      3.  
        Enable FIPS mode for the NetBackup Authentication Broker service
      4.  
        Enable FIPS mode for the NetBackup Administration Console
      5.  
        NB_FIPS_MODE option for NetBackup servers and clients
    11.  
      Installing KMS
    12. Workflow for external KMS configuration
      1.  
        Validating KMS credentials
      2.  
        Configuring KMS credentials
      3.  
        Configuring KMS
      4.  
        Creating keys in an external KMS
      5. Workflow to configure data-in-transit encryption
        1.  
          Configure the global data-in-transit encryption setting
        2. Configure the DTE mode on a client
          1.  
            DTE_CLIENT_MODE for clients
        3. How DTE configuration settings work in various NetBackup operations
          1.  
            Backup
          2.  
            Restore
          3.  
            MSDP backup, restore, and optimized duplication
          4.  
            Universal-Share policy backup
          5.  
            Catalog backup and recovery
          6.  
            Duplication
          7.  
            Synthetic backup
          8.  
            Verify
          9.  
            Import
          10.  
            Replication
        4.  
          Configure the DTE mode on the media server
        5. Modify the DTE mode on a backup image
          1.  
            DTE_IGNORE_IMAGE_MODE for NetBackup servers
    13. Workflow to use external certificates for NetBackup host communication
      1. About certificate revocation lists for external CA
        1.  
          How CRLs from ECA_CRL_PATH are used
        2.  
          How CRLs from CDP URLs are used
      2.  
        Configure an external certificate for the NetBackup web server
      3.  
        Configuring the primary server to use an external CA-signed certificate
      4. Configuring an external certificate for a clustered primary server
        1. Configuration options for external CA-signed certificates for a virtual name
          1.  
            CLUSTER_ECA_CERT_PATH for clustered primary server
          2.  
            CLUSTER_ECA_TRUST_STORE_PATH for clustered primary server
          3.  
            CLUSTER_ECA_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH for clustered primary server
          4.  
            CLUSTER_ECA_KEY_PASSPHRASEFILE for clustered primary server
      5. Configuring a NetBackup host (media server, client, or cluster node) to use an external CA-signed certificate after installation
        1.  
          Enrolling an external certificate for a remote host
      6. Configuration options for external CA-signed certificates
        1. ECA_CERT_PATH for NetBackup servers and clients
          1.  
            Specifying Windows certificate store for ECA_CERT_PATH
        2.  
          ECA_TRUST_STORE_PATH for NetBackup servers and clients
        3.  
          ECA_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH for NetBackup servers and clients
        4.  
          ECA_KEY_PASSPHRASEFILE for NetBackup servers and clients
        5.  
          ECA_CRL_CHECK for NetBackup servers and clients
        6.  
          ECA_CRL_PATH for NetBackup servers and clients
        7.  
          ECA_CRL_PATH_SYNC_HOURS for NetBackup servers and clients
        8.  
          ECA_CRL_REFRESH_HOURS for NetBackup servers and clients
        9.  
          ECA_DISABLE_AUTO_ENROLLMENT for NetBackup servers and clients
        10.  
          ECA_DR_BKUP_WIN_CERT_STORE for NetBackup servers and clients
        11.  
          MANAGE_WIN_CERT_STORE_PRIVATE_KEY option for NetBackup primary servers
    14.  
      Guidelines for managing the primary server NetBackup catalog
    15. About protecting the MSDP catalog
      1. About the MSDP shadow catalog
        1.  
          Changing the MSDP shadow catalog path
        2.  
          Changing the MSDP shadow catalog schedule
        3.  
          Changing the number of MSDP catalog shadow copies
      2.  
        About the MSDP catalog backup policy
    16. How to set up malware scanning
      1.  
        Prerequisites for a scan host
      2.  
        Configuring a new scan host pool
    17. About backup anomaly detection
      1.  
        Detecting backup anomalies on the primary server
      2.  
        Detecting backup anomalies on the media server
      3.  
        Configure backup anomaly detection settings
      4.  
        View backup anomalies
    18.  
      Send audit events to system logs
    19.  
      Send audit events to log forwarding endpoints
    20.  
      Display a banner to users when they sign in
  5. Steps to protect NetBackup Flex Scale
    1.  
      About NetBackup Flex Scale hardening
    2.  
      About the security meter
    3. STIG overview for NetBackup Flex Scale
      1.  
        STIG-compliant password policy rules
      2.  
        Enabling STIG for NetBackup Flex Scale
      3.  
        Viewing the NetBackup Flex Scale STIG status
    4. FIPS overview for NetBackup Flex Scale
      1.  
        Viewing the NetBackup Flex Scale FIPS status
    5.  
      Managing the login banner
    6.  
      Changing the password policy
    7. Support for immutability in NetBackup Flex Scale
      1.  
        About lockdown modes
      2.  
        Selecting or changing the lockdown mode
      3.  
        Restricted access to Remote Management Platform (HPe iLO)
      4.  
        Configuring immutability using GUI
    8.  
      Authenticating users using digital certificates or smart cards
    9.  
      About system certificates on NetBackup Flex Scale
    10. Deploying external certificates on NetBackup Flex Scale
      1.  
        Deploying ECA using the GUI
      2.  
        Log locations
      3.  
        Considerations for performing other operations when ECA is deployed
    11. About multifactor authentication
      1.  
        Considerations before configuring multifactor authentication
      2.  
        Configuring multifactor authentication for your user account
      3.  
        Disabling multifactor authentication for your user account
      4.  
        Enforcing multifactor authentication for all users
      5.  
        Configuring multifactor authentication for your user account when it is enforced in the cluster
      6.  
        Resetting multifactor authentication for a user
    12. About single sign-on (SSO) configuration
      1.  
        Configuring SSO on a NetBackup Flex Scale cluster on which both primary and media servers are deployed
      2.  
        Configuring SSO on a NetBackup Flex Scale cluster on which only media servers are deployed

Enabling STIG for NetBackup Flex Scale

With NetBackup Flex Scale version 3.2, you can enable STIG hardening rules for increased security. These rules are based on the following profile from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA):

STIG for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide - Version 1, Release 10

After the STIG option is enabled:

  • A STIG-compliant password policy is automatically enforced. All current user passwords that were created under the default password policy remain valid. Once a password expires, you must follow the STIG-compliant policy rules when you change the password.

    See STIG-compliant password policy rules.

  • The STIG default login banner is displayed when you log in to the NetBackup Flex Scale UI and the NetBackup Administration Console. View the Alert! Accessing Information System window and click Continue to proceed.

Review the following guidelines before enabling STIG:

  • When you enable STIG, the STIG option is configured for all the nodes in a cluster. The cluster must be configured before you enable the STIG option.

  • The STIG option does not allow individual rule control.

  • Before you enable STIG, it is recommended that you complete the following prerequisites. However, not completing the prerequisites does not prevent you from enabling STIG. You can complete these requirements after you enable the STIG option.

    • Configure at least two NTP servers for the cluster.

    • Configure at least two DNS servers for the cluster.

    • Configure an SMTP server to enable notifications.

  • After the STIG option is enabled, a factory reset is required to disable the associated rules. You cannot disable the option using the UI or the REST APIs.

  • Veritas recommends that you do not perform any other tasks while the STIG operation is in progress.

  • If site-based disaster recovery is configured, ensure that both the primary and the secondary clusters have similar STIG configuration. If STIG is enabled for the primary cluster, the STIG option must be enabled for the secondary cluster. Similarly, if STIG is not enabled for the primary cluster, do not enable STIG for the secondary cluster.

Enabling STIG using the NetBackup Flex Scale web interface

To enable the STIG hardening rules, complete the following steps:

  1. Use any one of the following options to log in using the user account that you created:

    • Use a user account with both Appliance Administrator and NetBackup Administrator role, or a user account with only an Appliance administrator role to log in to the NetBackup Flex Scale web interface https://ManagementServerIPorFQDN/webui where ManagementServerIPorFQDN is the public IP address, the FQDN, or the short host name that you specified for the NetBackup Flex Scale management server and API gateway during the cluster configuration, and then in the left pane click Cluster Management > Cluster settings.

    • Use a user account with an Appliance Administrator role to log in to the NetBackup Flex Scale infrastructure management console https://ManagementServerIPorFQDN:14161 where ManagementServerIPorFQDN is the public IP address, the FQDN, or the short host name that you specified for the NetBackup Flex Scale management server and API gateway during the cluster configuration, and then in the left pane click Settings.

      Note:

      If you access the NetBackup Flex Scale infrastructure management console by using the short host name from a node, set the DNS settings (name server, domain name, and search domain) or ensure that the entry for mapping the short host name to an IP address exists in the hosts file of the node.

  2. Click Security management.
  3. On the STIG tab, click Enable STIG.

    If the prerequisites are not met, you are prompted to resolve the errors. However you can choose to ignore these errors and proceed by clicking Continue. You can complete the prerequisites later after you enable the STIG option. If the requirements are met, review the displayed guidelines and click Enable.

    Note:

    Do not perform any other tasks until the STIG enable operation is complete.

  4. To monitor the progress, click View details on the Security page. The ongoing and completed tasks for the operation are also displayed in Recent activity.

    After the operation is complete, you can view the STIG status for all the cluster nodes. If STIG is enabled for a node, the status is displayed as Enabled. If the STIG option cannot be enabled for a node, the status is displayed as Not Enabled, and if the node status cannot be retrieved because the node is stopped, shut down, or not reachable, the status is displayed as Unknown.

    For nodes that display Unknown status, you can enable the STIG option again or wait for the node to automatically synchronize its status with the cluster after the node is up.

If some of the STIG rules fail or you make any updates to the cluster settings or configuration, you can enforce the STIG rules again on the nodes where the STIG option is already enabled by clicking Enable STIG.

Enabling STIG using REST APIs

You can use the following API to enable STIG:

PATCH /api/appliance/v1.0/security/stig

You can find the REST APIs at https://ManagementServerIPorFQDN:14161/swagger/infra/v1.0/ where ManagementServerIPorFQDN is the public IP address, the FQDN, or the short host name that you specified for the management server and API gateway during the cluster configuration. For more details about the APIs, see the NetBackup Flex Scale APIs on SORT.

Note:

If you access the NetBackup Flex Scale infrastructure management console by using the short host name from a node, set the DNS settings (name server, domain name, and search domain) or ensure that the entry for mapping the short host name to an IP address exists in the hosts file of the node.