A Complete Security Checklist for Hardening Your Cloud VPS Server
Deploying a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is only the first step. Unsecured servers are targeted by automated brute-force scripts within minutes of going live. Implement this step-by-step hardening protocol to protect your digital assets.
Disable password authentication in your sshd_config file and force SSH key connections. SSH keys are virtually impossible to brute-force, ensuring secure remote access.
Close all unused networking ports using a local firewall utility (UFW or firewalld). Only allow connections on ports explicitly required for your services (e.g. 80, 443, 22).
Fail2Ban monitors log files for malicious authentication patterns and automatically creates temporary firewall blocks for offending IP addresses, protecting your system memory.
Regularly schedule automated system updates to resolve kernel vulnerabilities. If you are shopping for secure hosting nodes with dedicated firewalls, view options in our Security & VPN Catalogs or read reviews for secure hosts like NordVPN.