Madarson IT Hardened Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Desktop with GUI/RDP

This is a repackaged open source software product wherein additional charges apply for security hardening, compliance alignment, and ongoing maintenance of this image.

Deploy a security-hardened Ubuntu 24.04 LTS virtual desktop on AWS with pre-configured GUI and RDP access. Built for organizations in healthcare, financial services, and government that require compliant workstations without sacrificing usability.

This AMI delivers a production-ready Ubuntu 24.04 LTS desktop environment with comprehensive security hardening applied. The image combines graphical desktop access via RDP with enterprise-grade security controls - enabling compliance auditors, developers, and IT administrators to work in a hardened environment without manual configuration.

• Unused network services and daemons disabled to minimize attack surface
• SSH root login blocked; key-based authentication enforced
• Firewall rules pre-configured to restrict inbound traffic to essential ports (RDP 3389)
• AppArmor security profiles enforced for critical system processes
• Kernel parameters tuned for security (ASLR enabled, core dumps restricted)
• Password policies enforced with complexity requirements and account lockout
• Audit logging enabled for security-relevant system events
• Automatic security updates configured for critical patches

This hardened image maps to controls within established standards and regulatory frameworks:

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) - Access control, system integrity, and audit logging controls
• ISO 27000 series - Information security management controls for access and configuration
• PCI DSS - System hardening requirements for cardholder data environments
• HIPAA - Technical safeguards for systems handling protected health information

Note: This image establishes a strong security baseline. Organizations may need to apply additional configurations based on their specific security requirements and risk profile.

This AMI integrates with key AWS services for operational management:

• Amazon CloudWatch - Monitor system performance, RDP session metrics, and security events
• AWS Systems Manager - Manage patching, run commands, and maintain inventory across instances
• AWS Directory Service - Integrate with Active Directory for centralized user authentication
• Amazon VPC - Deploy within isolated network segments with security group controls for RDP access

A healthcare organization can provision HIPAA-compliant developer workstations by launching this AMI within a private VPC subnet. Developers connect via RDP to access a hardened desktop environment for building applications that handle protected health information - without the overhead of manually hardening each workstation.

• Supported Instance Types: General purpose (t3.medium or larger recommended), compute optimized (c5), and memory optimized (r5) families
• Minimum Resources: 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB EBS storage
• Network: Security group must allow inbound TCP port 3389 for RDP access
• RDP Client: Compatible with standard RDP clients (Microsoft Remote Desktop, Remmina, FreeRDP)
• Key Pair: Required for initial instance access

1. Launch the AMI from AWS Marketplace selecting your preferred instance type
2. Configure your security group to allow inbound RDP (TCP 3389) from your IP range
3. Retrieve instance credentials using your EC2 key pair
4. Connect via your RDP client to the instance public or private IP
5. Begin working in a hardened Ubuntu 24.04 LTS desktop environment

Madarson IT certified images are always up to date, secure, follow industry standards, and are built to work right out of the box. Our hardened images reduce the time and expertise required to establish a compliant security baseline on AWS.

Disclaimer: Ubuntu is a trademark of Canonical Ltd. This offering is provided by Madarson IT and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Canonical Ltd.