According to best practices, should ICMP be enabled?

Disabling ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) aligns with best practices for enhancing network security. ICMP can potentially expose network devices to various attacks, such as ping floods or reconnaissance efforts by malicious actors who can map out network topology using ICMP echo requests. By disabling ICMP, organizations reduce the attack surface and limit the information available to potential attackers.

In a secure environment, minimizing unnecessary services and protocols is crucial to maintaining robust security. Organizations often opt to disable ICMP unless there is a compelling operational need to have it enabled, such as during specific troubleshooting scenarios. In such cases, it may be re-enabled temporarily, but generally, it is advisable to keep it disabled to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the network.

Understanding these implications is essential when configuring network devices and applying security best practices.