Build Configuration Reviews
Many breaches stem from insecure defaults and weak settings. We review your systems against recognised hardening benchmarks.
Overview
Build Configuration Reviews Build configuration reviews focus on evaluating how your systems, servers and applications are configured at the operating system and platform level. The goal is to ensure that your environments are securely set up in line with best practice and are not introducing avoidable risks due to misconfigurations, weak settings or overlooked defaults. This type of assessment is essential for understanding how your technology is behaving under the surface and whether it has been hardened properly against both external and internal threats.
Why It Matters
Many security incidents are caused not by software vulnerabilities but by incorrect or insecure configurations. These issues can include weak encryption settings, overly permissive file permissions, unnecessary services running or default accounts left enabled. In most cases they can be fixed quickly once identified but are often missed entirely without a dedicated review. Build configuration reviews help identify these hidden risks before they are exploited. Whether you are deploying new systems, managing cloud environments or maintaining legacy infrastructure, a well configured build forms the foundation of your security posture.
In Summary
Build configuration reviews are a simple but powerful way to improve your security from the ground up. They help ensure that your systems are not just functional but also resilient and secure against common threats. Whether you are preparing for deployment, scaling up infrastructure or reviewing existing environments this type of assessment gives you confidence that your platforms are aligned with modern security expectations and are not silently introducing risk.
Why Organisations Choose This Assessment
Reduce Attack Surface
Identifies services, configurations and functions that are not required but are enabled by default and could be used by attackers to gain access
Harden Systems Against Threats
Ensures that systems follow best practice for hardening such as removing unnecessary accounts, disabling insecure protocols and enforcing strong password policies
Support Compliance
Helps meet the configuration management requirements of standards like ISO 27001, CIS Benchmarks, Cyber Essentials and NCSC guidance
Enhance Operational Reliability
A secure and well configured system is often a more stable and predictable one which reduces the chance of outages or misbehaviour caused by unexpected settings
What the Assessment Involves
The review process involves examining the configuration of your systems in detail. This can include workstations, physical servers, virtual machines, cloud instances, network devices and application platforms. The assessment checks for insecure default settings, unused features, missing security updates and inconsistencies across environments. The process is guided by recognised benchmarks and frameworks such as CIS controls, vendor best practice and internal policies where available. Each finding is documented with context and guidance to help your team understand its impact and how to address it effectively. Where appropriate recommendations are tailored to your environment to ensure they are practical and achievable within your operational needs.
At a Glance
Scope Agreement
Agreeing systems in scope – workstations, servers, VMs, cloud or network devices.
Configuration Collection
Read-only access or exported files – no disruption to live systems.
Benchmark Comparison
Assessed against CIS Controls, vendor hardening guides and NCSC guidance.
Finding Analysis
Contextualised recommendations – practical, not generic checklists.
Reporting
Each finding with risk level and clear remediation steps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a build configuration review?
A build configuration review assesses how your systems, servers and applications have been configured at the operating system and platform level. It checks whether security best practice has been followed, whether insecure defaults have been changed and whether unnecessary features or services have been disabled. We benchmark findings against recognised standards such as the CIS Controls and NCSC guidance.
Which systems can you review?
We can review Windows and Linux servers, workstations, virtual machines, cloud instances, network devices, containerised environments and application platforms. Reviews can be conducted on individual systems or across an entire estate depending on your needs.
How does this relate to Cyber Essentials compliance?
Build configuration is one of the five technical controls required by Cyber Essentials. The scheme requires that devices are configured securely, unnecessary software is removed and default passwords are changed. A build configuration review helps you identify gaps before your Cyber Essentials assessment and gives you actionable steps to achieve compliance.
Will the review cause any downtime?
No. Build configuration reviews are non-disruptive. We either review exported configuration files or connect with read-only access. No changes are made to your systems during the assessment. Any recommendations are provided in the report for your team to implement at a time that suits your operations.