If you next to deploy Linux on Cloud you should consider hardening the Linux instance prior to any deployment. Below are guidelines we have pulled together with regards to hardening a RedHat or CentOS instance.

Hardening Redhat linux guidelines

enable selinux

Ensure that /etc/selinux/config includes the following lines:
SELINUX=enforcing
SELINUXTYPE=targeted

Run the following on commandline to allow httpd to create outbound network connections
setsebool httpd_can_network_connect=1

check using
sestatus
To enable/disable
echo 1 >/selinux/enforce

disable the services

chkconfig anacron off
chkconfig autofs off
chkconfig avahi-daemon off
chkconfig gpm off
chkconfig haldaemon off
chkconfig mcstrans off
chkconfig mdmonitor off
chkconfig messagebus off
chkconfig readahead_early
chkconfig readahead_early off
chkconfig readahead_later off
chkconfig xfs off

Disable SUID and SGID Binaries

chmod -s /bin/ping6
chmod -s /usr/bin/chfn
chmod -s /usr/bin/chsh
chmod -s /usr/bin/chage
chmod -s /usr/bin/wall
chmod -s /usr/bin/rcp
chmod -s /usr/bin/rlogin
chmod -s /usr/bin/rsh
chmod -s /usr/bin/write

Set Kernel parameters

At boot, the system reads and applies a set of kernel parameters from /etc/sysctl.conf. Add the following lines to that file to prevent certain kinds of attacks:

net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter=1
net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route=0
net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts=1
net.ipv4.icmp_ignore_bogus_error_messages=1
kernel.exec-shield=1
kernel.randomize_va_space=1

Disable IPv6

Unless your policy or network configuration requires it, disable IPv6. To do so, prevent the kernel module from loading by adding the following line to /etc/modprobe.conf:
install ipv6 /bin/true
Next, add or change the following lines in /etc/sysconfig/network:
NETWORKING_IPV6=no
IPV6INIT=no

Nessus PCI Scan

Upgrade openssh to latest version

upgrade bash to latest version

http://www.thecpaneladmin.com/upgrading-openssh-on-centos-5/

Set HTTP headers off

In /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf set the following values
ServerTokens Prod
ServerSignature Off
TraceEnable off

In /etc/php.ini set
expose_php = Off

Change MySQL to listens on only localhost

Edit /etc/my.cnf and add following to mysqld section
bind-address = 127.0.0.1

Make sure only port 80 443 21 are open

vi /etc/sysconfig/iptables
and add
ACCEPT tcp – anywhere anywhere state NEW tcp dpt:https
ACCEPT tcp — anywhere anywhere state NEW tcp dpt:ftp