Hardening a machine is crucial in the effectiveness of your systems performance and intended use. This will limit the risk factor of unwanted and unneeded security holes and vulnerabilities within them. In today's society, one needs to have encryption, good authentication, and an awareness of security. Taking care of insecure services early in the game and hardening the operating system will help reduce problems in the future. Remember security DOES affect your company and its productivity.
Security affects confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Ryan Russell and Stace Cunningham. Proofing your Network Internet Tradecraft. Syngress Media, January 15, 2000.