What is the consequence of hardening the PSMP regarding root user authentication?

Hardening the PSMP (Privileged Session Manager Proxy) involves implementing security measures to limit access and enhance the security of sensitive accounts, particularly the root user account. One significant effect of this hardening is that the root user is prohibited from authenticating remotely using a password.

This approach is part of a broader security strategy to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access. By disallowing remote password-based authentication, organizations significantly reduce the attack surface. Attackers often exploit weak or compromised credentials, and by eliminating the ability to authenticate the root account remotely with a password, the organization helps safeguard it against such threats.

This hardened security stance aligns with best practices for managing privileged accounts, where strong authentication methods are promoted, and the use of passwords is restricted in favor of more secure alternatives, such as multifactor authentication or utilizing secure key-based methods for access.