Keeping your Linux server secure in 3 easy steps

3 Easy Steps to Keep Your Linux VPS Secure

Linux is a very secure operating system. However, that does not mean you should take a “set and forget” approach. Doing so can increase the risk of a security breach or data loss, which could cost your business both time and money.

That is why Ethernet Servers recommends that all Linux VPS customers follow these three simple steps to maintain a secure, high-performance hosting environment.

1. Use Strong and Unique Passwords

By default, we deploy all Linux VPS plans with a strong, randomly generated root password. We understand that long passwords can be harder to remember, so it may be tempting to change yours to something shorter and simpler.

However, convenience should never come at the expense of security. If you do change your password, make sure it is unique and hard to guess. A strong password should include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You should also avoid dictionary words and anything easy to predict.

You can install the latest updates and security software, but a weak root password can still leave your server exposed. Security works best when every layer is strong.

2. Keep Your Operating System Up to Date

Most Linux distributions receive security-related updates on a regular basis. This includes everything from the kernel to SSH, systemd, and sudo. Keeping your system updated is one of the simplest and most important ways to protect your VPS.

That does not mean you need to log in every day to run updates manually. Many distributions support automatic updates. For example, Debian and Ubuntu offer the unattended-upgrades feature.

Some people follow the rule of “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” While that may sound sensible, avoiding security updates can create bigger problems later. As long as you keep regular backups, you will be in a much safer position if an update ever causes an issue.

3. Restrict Access Wherever Possible

The less exposure your services have, the better. If you have a static IP address at home or work, and you are the only person who needs access, consider limiting services such as SSH, phpMyAdmin, or WHM to that IP address.

The exact method depends on the service. For SSH, you could use iptables. For phpMyAdmin, you can usually configure access through the phpmyadmin.conf file. For WHM, you can use Host Access Control.

At the same time, make sure you have a backup plan in case your IP address changes. For example, we provide an SSL-secured HTML5 serial console that authenticated customers can use to access their server if they are locked out of SSH.

Need Help Securing Your Infrastructure?

We hope this short guide has been helpful. If you would like to learn more about securing your infrastructure, or if you have any questions about our products and services, please get in touch.

We are here to help, 24/7/365.