How to To Harden MS SQL Server 2008: 11 Ways | UpGuard

This document provides 11 practical recommendations to harden Microsoft SQL Server 2008, including disabling BUILTIN\Administrators and the sa account, using AD security groups for access control, shifting services to non-default ports, installing only required components, ensuring xp_cmdshell remains disabled, standardizing on either Named Pipes or TCP/IP (not both), separating SSRS from the database server, disabling the VSS Writer and SQL Server Browser services when not needed, disabling or renaming the Guest user, and removing sample databases—all aimed at reducing the attack surface and limiting potential attack vectors.