ClawdContext — Hardening Guide

10-Point Hardening Checklist

Essential security checks before deploying any AI agent with tool access.

Security Readiness Checklist

Complete all items before production deployment

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Network Security

No admin ports exposed to the internet (use VPN/tunnel)

CRITICAL

Ensure no admin panels, debug interfaces, or management endpoints are accessible from the public internet. Use VPNs, SSH tunnels, or private networks.

→ Scan for open ports

IP allowlisting for sensitive operations

HIGH

Implement IP allowlisting for sensitive operations. Only trusted IPs should access admin functions or critical tools.

→ Review firewall rules
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Authentication & Authorization

All endpoints require authentication (no default credentials)

CRITICAL

All endpoints must require authentication. No default credentials—force users to set strong passwords on first run.

→ Test for anonymous access

Implement rate limiting

HIGH

Apply rate limiting to all API endpoints. Prevent brute force attacks and resource exhaustion.

→ Configure rate limits
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Secrets Management

Secrets stored in vault/env, never in code or logs

CRITICAL

Store secrets in environment variables or a vault. Never hardcode API keys, passwords, or tokens in code or configuration files.

→ Scan code for secrets

Rotate credentials regularly

HIGH

Implement automatic credential rotation for API keys and service accounts. Have a breach response plan ready.

→ Set rotation schedule
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Input Validation

Strict input validation and sanitization

CRITICAL

Validate and sanitize all user inputs before processing. Implement strict type checking, length limits, and content filtering.

→ Review input handlers
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Monitoring & Logging

Comprehensive logging with alerting on suspicious activities

HIGH

Enable comprehensive logging for all agent actions, tool calls, and system events. Log to a secure, tamper-evident system.

→ Configure log aggregation

Real-time monitoring of tool usage patterns

HIGH

Implement real-time monitoring of tool usage patterns, resource consumption, and anomalous behaviors. Set up alerts for suspicious activities.

→ Set up dashboards and alerts
🏝️

Isolation & Sandboxing

Sandboxed environment for tool execution

HIGH

Run agent tool execution in isolated environments (containers, VMs, or sandboxes). Limit resource access and implement escape prevention.

→ Verify container isolation
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Incident Response

Documented incident response procedures

HIGH

Document incident response procedures. Have a runbook for common scenarios: credential exposure, unusual activity, suspected breach.

→ Create incident runbook

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