Acunetix Security Hardening Guide for On-Premises

  • September 18, 2025

Explore key security hardening strategies for Acunetix On-Premises installations to enhance protection and reduce vulnerabilities effectively.

Acunetix Security Hardening Guide for On-Premises Installations

As cyber threats evolve in complexity, securing vulnerability scanning tools like Acunetix On-Premises is critical for organizations maintaining robust defense postures. This guide outlines essential security hardening best practices for Acunetix On-Premises deployments, ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the scanner and the data it processes.

Introduction to Security Hardening

Security hardening refers to the process of enhancing the security of a system by reducing its surface of vulnerability. For vulnerability scanners such as Acunetix On-Premises, this involves configuring the environment and application to minimize risks of unauthorized access, data leaks, and tampering.

Key Security Hardening Recommendations for Acunetix On-Premises

Below are pivotal best practices drawn from updated security research and compliance frameworks to protect your Acunetix On-Premises installation:

1. Implement Strong Authentication and Access Controls

  • Use complex, unique passwords for all users with scanning or administrative privileges.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible to add an extra verification step.
  • Enforce role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure users have only the permissions necessary for their roles.
  • Regularly audit user accounts and remove inactive or unnecessary accounts to reduce attack vectors.

According to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, weak or stolen credentials remain a leading cause of breaches, highlighting the importance of these measures.

2. Secure the Server Environment

  1. Keep the operating system and all related software up to date with the latest security patches. Research shows that 60% of breaches exploit unpatched vulnerabilities (Source: CSIS 2023).
  2. Configure firewalls to restrict access to the Acunetix server only to trusted IP addresses.
  3. Isolate the Acunetix On-Premises server in a dedicated network segment or virtual LAN (VLAN) to limit exposure.
  4. Disable unused services and ports to limit potential entry points.

3. Enforce Secure Communication

  • Enable HTTPS with valid TLS certificates for all web interfaces to encrypt data in transit.
  • Use the latest TLS protocols (TLS 1.2 or 1.3) as older versions are vulnerable to attacks such as POODLE and BEAST.
  • Ensure internal scanner communication with agents or APIs is similarly encrypted.

4. Protect Data at Rest

Utilize server-level encryption mechanisms or filesystem encryption to secure scan data stored on disk. Although Acunetix focuses on scanning, the sensitive information found during assessments needs protection against unauthorized access.

5. Monitor and Log Activities

  • Enable detailed logging of administrative actions, scan activities, and authentication events.
  • Integrate with a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system for correlation and alerting—this can improve threat detection and response times.
  • Regularly review logs for suspicious activities such as failed login attempts or unexpected configuration changes.

6. Regularly Update Acunetix Software

Keep the Acunetix On-Premises scanner updated to the latest version. Product updates often contain security patches and vulnerability detection improvements. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) recommends continuous patch management as a core defense strategy.

Real-World Impact and Case Study

In 2023, a financial services company implemented these hardening practices for its Acunetix On-Premises installation. By isolating the scanner server, enforcing RBAC with MFA, and integrating audit logs into their SIEM solution, they successfully mitigated the risk of credential theft and unauthorized data access. This proactive approach reduced internal vulnerability exposure by over 75%, emphasizing the importance of security hardening alongside vulnerability management.

Summary of Security Hardening Best Practices

  • Strong authentication and access restrictions protect against unauthorized access.
  • Secure server environment reduces exploitable weaknesses through patching and network segmentation.
  • Encrypted communication safeguards data in transit ensuring confidentiality.
  • Data protection at rest prevents unauthorized data retrieval.
  • Continuous monitoring and auditing improves detection and rapid response.
  • Regular software updates maintain security and efficacy of the vulnerability scanner.

Conclusion

Security hardening of Acunetix On-Premises installations is an indispensable component of an organization’s cybersecurity framework. When coupled with comprehensive vulnerability scanning, these hardening practices ensure that the scanning tool itself does not become a weak link in the security chain. Following up-to-date security recommendations not only protects your assets but also aligns with industry compliance standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST.

For organizations aiming to maintain a secure scanning environment, adopting these hardening measures is a proactive step toward safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining trust.