Securing your web server can be a pain, especially if you’re new to the game. You have to know what steps are necessary to ensure your site, where they should go, and why they need to be there.
Why Securing Your Web Server Is Essential?
What is the purpose of securing your website or server? Do you need to do this only if it’s a production site on some public network such as the internet? What matters maximum is how you treat your device. I have seen sites with the most beautiful of web front-ends on production that had mSQL or some other form of an open back end accessible through a browser that was vulnerable to hackers. Linux Web Hosting in India is the most popular option among web hosting providers.
Seven Steps That Will Help Secure Your Website!
1. Install a Firewall
The first thing you should do is install a firewall on your server. Several firewalls are out there, but the top 3 are Check Point FireWall-1, IP Tables, and CSF (Config Server Security & Firewall).
IP Tables uses a command-line interface to manage your firewall, which beginners can find difficult. There is also another application that you can install called APF (Advanced Policy Firewall). The installation process is very similar to IPTables, but the management console is a little easier to use.
2. Turn off Unused Services
Turning off services that you don’t use or need is a good idea for security. If your server gets compromised somehow and the bad guys get in, they can turn these services back on and use them to their advantage. Here’s a list of some standard ports and what service uses them:
3. Use Strong Passwords
Using strong passwords is the best idea, but I must stress that they must be solid! Don’t just use wordlists for dictionary words. That won’t even make it hard for somebody to get in. They can easily break your password using programs like Cain & Able and John the Ripper. You should at least use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
4. Change Your Root Password
Now, this is a significant step! If your root password ever got compromised somehow, the bad guys would have complete control over your server, and they can do what they want with it. Nobody wants that to happen. Right? To change your root password!
5. Disable Root Logins via SSH
Disabling root access to your server is a good idea for security, especially if you have a multi-user environment. If the bad guys somehow manage to gain access to your server, they can use it to their advantage by either deleting everything or installing malware and backdoors on your system. So locking the root user out is a good idea. You can always enable it if you need to bypass the -o PasswordAuthentication=yes on your ssh command.
6. SSL Certificate
Yes, there are also some things that you can do to secure your website’s communication with the client. And that is by using SSL certificates on your site! Not only will it encrypt your communication, but it will also show some signs of authenticity for your website, so users know they are visiting the right website.
7. Create Security Policies
Creating security policies is essential in securing your server because you need to set up rules and guidelines for your users to follow. For instance, you can set up a policy that tells your users not to download and install some types of software such as instant messengers, torrent files, or even entire file-sharing websites. You can also tell them what they can and cannot do on the server itself. The good idea is to set up a document with all your policies and guidelines and then post it in the leading directory on the server so they will be able to access it easily.
So, those were seven steps that you can take to secure your web server! I hope this was informative, and thank you for reading!
Conclusion:
You have seen what steps you should take to secure your server. It is pretty simple but essential for security. Linux web hosting in India is an open-source operating system that uses a Linux-based server to host websites. A website cannot exist on the internet without hosting. Make sure to follow the steps mentioned in this article.
