What is Baselines?
Baselines Definition: A minimum level of security.
Understanding Baselines
A minimum level of security. Security baselines are standardized sets of security controls and configurations that establish the minimum security requirements for systems, networks, or applications within an organization. They provide a starting point for secure system deployment and a reference for compliance measurement. Security baselines are recommended in frameworks like CIS Controls, NIST 800-53, and ISO 27001. Organizations implement baselines through security configuration guides, hardening standards, and automated compliance checking tools. For example, a Windows server baseline might specify password complexity requirements, disabled unnecessary services, and specific auditing configurations that must be implemented on all servers in the environment. Related terms: Security standards, Hardening, Configuration management, Compliance, Secure configuration, Benchmarks.