NetBackup and NetBackup Appliances Hardening Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): Appliances (11.0, 8.5, 8.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.5.0.1, 3.5), NetBackup (11.0, 8.5, 8.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.5.0.1, 3.5)
Platform: Veritas 3340,Veritas 3350,Veritas 3360,Flex Appliance OS,NetBackup Appliance OS,NetBackup Flex Scale OS
  1. Top recommendations to improve your NetBackup and NetBackup 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. Managing multifactor authentication on a primary or a media server instance
      1.  
        Configuring or disabling multifactor authentication on a primary server instance
      2.  
        Configuring or disabling multifactor authentication on a media server instance
      3.  
        Enforcing multifactor authentication on a primary or a media server instance
    4. Managing multifactor authentication on a WORM storage server
      1.  
        Configuring or disabling multifactor authentication on a WORM storage server
    5. Managing single sign-on (SSO)
      1.  
        Managing identity providers (IDPs)
    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 MSDP 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.  
        Configure 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
    13.  
      Configuring isolated recovery environment (IRE)
  6. Steps to protect Access Appliance
    1.  
      About Access Appliance hardening
    2. FIPS 140-2 conformance for Access Appliance
      1.  
        Viewing FIPS status for Access Appliance
      2.  
        Enabling FIPS for Access Appliance
      3.  
        Disabling FIPS mode for NetBackup MSDP
      4.  
        Managing the FIPS mode using the command-line interface
    3. Managing the login banner using the UI
      1.  
        Managing the banner from the command-line interface
    4. Managing the password policy using the UI
      1.  
        Managing the password policy from the command-line interface
    5. Support for immutability in Access Appliance
      1.  
        About lockdown modes
      2.  
        Selecting or changing the lockdown mode
      3.  
        Configuring immutability using GUI
    6. About system certificates on Access Appliance
      1.  
        About external certificates on Access Appliance
      2.  
        Deploying ECA using the GUI
      3.  
        Log locations
    7. About single sign-on (SSO) configuration
      1. Configuring SSO on Access Appliance
        1.  
          Adding and removing user roles using GUI
      2.  
        Limitations and log locations
    8. Configuring user authentication using digital certificates or smart cards
      1.  
        Adding CA certificates for smart card authentication
      2.  
        Deleting CA certificates
      3.  
        About configuring LDAP settings
      4.  
        Configuring LDAP server settings
      5.  
        Configuring AD server settings
    9. About multifactor authentication
      1.  
        Considerations when 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
    10. Configuring an isolated recovery environment using the command line
      1.  
        Configuring an isolated recovery environment on a storage server
      2.  
        Managing an isolated recovery environment on a storage server
      3.  
        Configuring data transmission between a production environment and an IRE storage server
    11. Forwarding logs to an external server
      1.  
        Configuring log forwarding using the UI
      2.  
        Modifying log forwarding settings using the UI
      3.  
        Removing log forwarding using the UI
      4.  
        Setting up log forwarding using the command-line interface
      5.  
        Viewing the configured settings from the appliance shell menu

Deploying ECA using the GUI

You can perform all external certificates-related operations from the Settings > Security management > Certificates tab.

  • Switch to external certificate

    • Once the external certificates are deployed, user can switch in between internal and external certificates.

    • After the external certificates are deployed, the Switch to appliance certificates option is enabled. The web server is restarted after certificates are switched.

    • Internal certificates or appliance certificates are the Access Appliance CA certificates which are deployed during the initial configuration.

  • Upload certificate

    • An ECA that is certified to work with CA bundle and an optional certificate revocation list (CRL) is required for the Access Appliance cluster components to use an external certificate.

    • All the artifacts must be deployed in tandem for the first time. This includes external certificate, CA bundle, and CRL.

    • CRL is optional. It may be provided as a file or embedded in certificate as a URL.

    • If using your own certificate, include the certificate and provide a key. Keep the private key unencrypted.

    • Once deployed all the Access Appliance components - web server and S3 services use the external certificates.

    • The web server and S3 server are restarted after deployment of certificate artifacts is successful.

  • View certificate request

    • You can view the generated certificate request and verify the subject distinguished names and subject alternative names.

    • You can also copy the generated certificate request and get the CA certificate from it.

  • Generate certificate request

    • You must provide a proper subject distinguished name and subject to generate correct external certificate that can be used in Access Appliance cluster.

    • You can use the GUI wizard to generate a proper request for the cluster. The wizard auto populates necessary IP/FQDN to generate correct request.

To deploy ECA using the GUI

  1. Go to the Settings > Security Management > Certificates tab.
  2. Click Generate certificate request and fill out the form. The SAN field is filled with default SAN entries that are mandatory for the configuration. For standard default configuration, it has the FQDN entries for all the storage servers, console IP and API gateway FQDN.
  3. Click Generate to generate a certificate request.
  4. Click Copy to copy the certificate request. This has to be given to a CA signing authority who uses this to generate a certificate. CA signing authority provides a certificate along with the root certificate and intermediate certificate used to generate the certificate. Authority may also provide a CRL file .
  5. You also have an option to upload a private key. If you want to use your own certificate, include the certificate and provide a key. Ensure that the private key is unencrypted.
  6. Go to Certificates > Upload certificate to upload the certificate artifacts. For a fresh deployment, both the certificate and CA certificate bundle are mandatory. CRL is optional. For renewal, any one of the three are required.
  7. After the certificate is uploaded, Save gets enabled. Click Save. The deployment is initiated.

    After deployment is successfully completed for all components, the GUI restarts with the uploaded external certificate.

You can verify the browser certificate from the GUI to verify that it is the same one that was used during deployment.