A cloud administrator is building a company-standard VM image, which will be based on a...

Hardening a VM image involves implementing security measures to reduce vulnerabilities and protect against threats. This process includes removing unnecessary software, services, and permissions, ensuring that the remaining software is updated with the latest security patches, and configuring settings to enhance security. Starting with a public image, the administrator should apply hardening techniques to ensure the custom company-standard VM image is secure and resilient against attacks.