[End of support] What will happen if I leave CentOS 7 as is?

This is Ohara from the technical sales department.

Community support for CentOS 7 will end (EOL) on June 30, 2024, which has become a big issue for many users.

Of course, even after CentOS 7 support ends, you can continue to use your server environment with CentOS 7 installed, but there are various security risks such as not being provided with the latest security patches and updates from the community. accompanies.

In this article, we will introduce the security risks and ways to temporarily maintain security.

*Information as of January 2024.

Increasing security risks and information security governance

In the future, patches and security updates for CentOS vulnerabilities will no longer be provided by the community, making CentOS an easy target for cyberattacks that exploit vulnerabilities, increasing security risks.

Lack of OS updates and maintenance reduces system stability, increases the risk of unexpected failures, and makes it difficult to deal with them.

Also, depending on the company, information security governance may require the implementation of security enhancements for specific systems.

Possible security risks

○ Attacks with unknown vulnerabilities (zero-days)
○ Attacks against known vulnerabilities
○ Malware and ransomware infections occur
○ Service outages and system failures occur
○ Loss of trust from customers and business partners

How to eliminate security risks

only way to reliably avoid security risks associated with the end of support for CentOS 7 is to migrate to another alternative/successful Linux distribution such as AlmaLinux or Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Migrating from CentOS 7 to another Linux distribution requires knowledge, technical ability, and difficulty, but future security patches will continue to be provided and support is excellent.

However, when migrating from CentOS 7 to another Linux distribution, you need to be aware of the following points:

Check system configuration and usage status

First, check the configuration and usage status of the system to be migrated. By checking the following points and understanding the system configuration and usage status, you can understand the work required for migration and risks.

○ Versions of the software and middleware modules used
○ Application settings and customization
○ Dependencies with each system

Examination of migration schedule, method, and budget

The migration schedule, method, and budget will vary depending on the system configuration and usage status.

○ Schedule migration early
. Migration work requires a certain schedule, which is extremely difficult to respond to immediately. By planning your schedule early and with enough time, you can carry out the transition effortlessly.

○ Selecting a migration method
It is necessary to carefully consider the risks associated with migration work, such as system outage and data migration, and perform a risk assessment. Even if you have carefully researched system dependencies, you may not know what will happen during the actual migration process, and you may encounter unexpected system troubles.

○ Plan the migration budget
Migration work requires a certain amount of effort and cost. If you find it difficult to migrate within your company, consider consulting with an external IT vendor. By outsourcing the migration work to an external IT vendor, you can proceed with the migration process safely and efficiently.

[First aid] How to prolong life while maintaining security

As mentioned earlier, the most optimal method is to migrate to another alternative/successful Linux distribution, but depending on the circumstances of the company or organization, there may be cases where it is not possible to take immediate action.

For example, when migrating to a different Linux distribution, there may be malfunctions due to dependencies with middleware versions such as Apache, MySQL, or PHP, or code modifications to customized application software may be required, but code modifications can be made. There are various possible cases, such as the person in charge or the IT vendor no longer available.

Here, we will list ways to maintain security while CentOS 7 is out of support, although this is just a temporary solution.

*However, although these methods can reduce security risks to some extent, we would appreciate it if you would consider them as temporary and emergency measures.

Deploy IPS/IDS security services

By introducing IPS/IDS into a server environment, you can expect to have the effect of notifying, blocking, or isolating unauthorized access or behavior within the server.

Trend Micro Cloud One (C1WS) , an IPS/IDS service provided by our company Beyond, has a function called "virtual patching", which plays a role in protecting against security vulnerabilities. Additionally, signatures can be automatically adapted, allowing you to receive optimal protection with minimal operational burden.

Introducing WAF security services

WAF (Web Application Firewall) is a security service that protects the http (80)/https (443) protocols used for Internet connections, and is primarily defined to protect websites and applications.

Scutum , a cloud-based WAF service provided by our company Beyond , protects websites and applications that generate dynamic pages in response to requests from various attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. can be defended.

Rely on MSP professional services

This is a method of outsourcing the operation of servers and infrastructure to an MSP (managed service provider).

At MSP, we provide system construction, operation and maintenance, and monitoring from a professional perspective for companies and organizations' IT infrastructure (servers, networks, databases, etc.) and applications, as well as system updates, security management, data backup, and systems. We provide continuous technical support, including recovery support in the event of a failure.

Note that support systems, scope, specialties, and fee structures vary depending on the MSP vendor, so we recommend choosing a vendor that matches your company.

summary

Above, we have introduced the security risks of leaving CentOS 7 as is and how to temporarily maintain security.

Whether it's migrating a server environment to a new Linux distribution or maintaining the security and extending the lifespan of a server environment, specialized knowledge, skills, and experience are required. If you find it difficult to handle the issue yourself, consider consulting with an expert such as an IT vendor.

▼ Click here for Beyond's "Server Migration Solution" ▼

● Cloud/server migration/migration
● CentOS server migration solution
● AlmaLinux OS server construction/migration service