System hardening is about reducing the attack surface by eliminating unnecessary features, closing open ports, and enforcing strict policies across endpoints, servers, and network devices. In this episode, we begin our multi-part discussion on hardening with encryption and endpoint protection. We explain how disk encryption, volume-level security, and full-disk encryption (FDE) protect data at rest, and how tools like EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) platforms provide active defense and visibility. These tools monitor for malicious behavior, block execution of untrusted software, and isolate compromised systems in real time. Encryption ensures that even if a device is physically stolen, the data within it remains inaccessible. This foundational approach is the first step in transforming a default installation into a resilient, production-ready system.