Checklist Summary:

This ESXi 5 Technology Overview, along with the general-purpose Operating System (OS) Security Requirements Guide (SRG), the Operating System (OS) Security Requirements Guide (SRG) (UNIX Version), the VMware vSphere 5 Security Hardening Guide, and associated MS Windows Server 2008 R2 Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), provides the technical security policies, requirements, and implementation details for applying security concepts to this UNIX-like hypervisor. The VMware vSphere 5 Security Hardening Guide contains product-specific, best-practices requirements for the VMware ESXi Version 5 Hypervisor. This hardening guide describes the ESXi 5 built-in security features, and the measures to safeguard ESXi 5 from attack. This hardening guide may be used to secure the vSphere 5 environment for VMware vCenter Server 5 and VMware ESXi 5. The VMware ESXi 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide may be used as a guide for enhancing the security configuration of the ESXi 5 Server system, including the server's Virtual Machines and Virtual networking components. The security requirements contained within the OS SRG, OS SRG (UNIX Version), the vSphere 5 Security Hardening Guide, and the UNIX STIGs are applicable to all DoD-administered systems and all systems connected to DoD networks. The SRGs, vSphere 5 Security Hardening Guide, and STIGs provide requirements and associated procedures to reduce the security vulnerabilities of UNIX systems. These requirements are designed to assist Security Managers (SMs), Information Assurance Managers (IAMs), Information Assurance Officers (IAOs), and System Administrators (SAs) with configuring and maintaining security controls in a UNIX environment. This ESXi 5 Technology Overview document introduces security concepts and terminology used in the general-purpose Operating System (OS) Security Requirements Guide (SRG), the OS SRG (UNIX Version), and the UNIX STIGs. This document is not a guide to UNIX, UNIX-like, or VMware ESXi 5 system administration. From this point on, any reference to UNIX will also include UNIX-like operating systems as well. The VMware vCenter Server Security Technical Implementation Guide may be used as a guide for enhancing the security configuration of the vCenter Server system, including the vSphere Update Manager.

Checklist Role:

• Operating System
• Virtualization Server

Known Issues:

Not provided.

Target Audience:

These requirements are designed to assist Security Managers (SMs), Information Assurance Managers (IAMs), Information Assurance Officers (IAOs), and System Administrators (SAs) with configuring and maintaining security controls in a UNIX environment.

Target Operational Environment:

• Managed
• Specialized Security-Limited Functionality (SSLF)

Testing Information:

The VMware vSphere 5 Security Hardening Guide contains product-specific, best-practices requirements for the VMware ESXi Version 5 Hypervisor.

Regulatory Compliance:

DoD Directive (DoDD) 8500.1 and 8500.2

Comments/Warnings/Miscellaneous:

Comments or proposed revisions to this document should be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. DISA Field Security Operations (FSO) will coordinate all change requests with the relevant DoD organizations before inclusion in this document.

Disclaimer:

Not provided.

Product Support:

Comments or proposed revisions to this document should be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. DISA Field Security Operations (FSO) will coordinate all change requests with the relevant DoD organizations before inclusion in this document.

Point of Contact:

[email protected]

Sponsor:

Not provided.

Licensing:

Not provided.

Change History:

Version 1, Release 3 - 27 September 2013
Version 1, Release 2 - 17 September 2013
Version 1, Release 1 - 17 July 2013

Dependency/Requirements:

URL	Description
http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/Documents/u_vmware_esxi5_server_stig_v1_releasememo.pdf	ESXi 5 Server STIG Release Memo

References:

Reference URL	Description

NIST checklist record last modified on 10/31/2013