MySQL Secure Installation / MySQL Hardening Steps / Securing MySQL

You can straight forward use below secure installation for mysql after the core installation,
           --MySQL secure installation
             mysql-secure-installation

You can follow below instructions individually to secure / harden mysql access.

           --Set strong password for root user in mysql.
                   set password for ‘root’@’localhost’ = PASSWORD(‘password’);
                   flush privileges;
        (or)
                   update mysql.user set authentication_string=PASSWORD('password') where user ='root';
                   flush privileges;

           --Remove anonymous users
                      delete from mysql.user where user =’’;
                      flush privileges;

           --Start MySQL to disable the use of symbolic links.
           --Any user having write access to data directory can disable the symbolic links & can potentially drop the database.
                      Add symbolic-links=0 in /etc/my.cnf

           --Rename the root account in mysql
                      update mysql.user set user=’dbadmin’ where user=’root’;

           --Enable proper logging MySQL as required with following keys in my.cnf
                      #Recommend to log mysql logs in  syslogs
                      [mysqld_safe]
                      syslog

                      #Alternatively you can specify your own path
                      [mysqld_safe]
                      log_error=/var/log/mysql/mysql_error.log

                      [mysqld]
                      log_error=/var/log/mysql/mysql_error.log

           --Remove test database after mysql initial installation.
                      drop database test;

           --Disable TCP/IP connectivity
                      Add skip-networking in /etc/my.cnf