Securing your VPS can seem like an impossible task, but with a few simple tips and tools, you can easily protect your server and website from cyber dangers.

Keep your operating system and web server software up-to-date to fix security flaws as soon as they are discovered. This is especially important when it comes to CMS software and other applications installed on the server.

1. Create Strong Passwords

The first step to securing your VPS is to create strong passwords. Hackers often target weak passwords as the quickest and most effective route to access a server. Passwords must be complex, contain a mix of letters and numbers, and be updated regularly.

The next step to securing your VPS is installing anti-malware software. This is essential, as malware attacks are continually evolving and are difficult to detect. Anti-malware software can monitor and remove any malware as it attempts to enter your system, providing an additional layer of security to protect your data.

Installing a firewall is also important for VPS security. A firewall can prevent hackers from intercepting your data and can also block ports that are not being used. Additionally, a VPN can protect your data from interceptions by routing all of your traffic through an encrypted tunnel, masking your IP address and protecting your privacy.

VPS users should avoid direct root logins, which allow hackers to use brute force attacks to guess the admin username and password. By disabling root logins, it will be impossible for hackers to break into the system using a simple password attack. Instead, non-root users can log into the system by using the sudo command with a different username.

Another essential measure to securing your VPS is to monitor your website’s system logs. These system logs will provide a record of user actions, resources, and errors that can help you identify any suspicious activity and take corrective action.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Hackers are working around the clock to uncover even the smallest security weaknesses in web servers. That’s why it’s important to implement strong security measures that mitigate these threats, including disabling IPv6, ensuring all software is up-to-date, and enabling two-factor authentication.

Enabling two-factor authentication allows only authorized users to access your VPS, making it much more difficult for hackers to gain unauthorized access. This is available for Managed VPS and Dedicated Server plans that offer Root access. The feature requires that a user not only enter their password but also a code from their smartphone to login, which drastically reduces the chance of a data breach or unauthorized access to your servers.

Regular system monitoring and auditing are also crucial to securing your VPS. You can monitor critical system performance metrics and resource consumption to identify anomalous behavior and quickly respond to it. Additionally, you can set up automated vulnerability scanning technologies to detect potentially harmful activities.

Ensure that your servers are using secure file transfer protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Subresource Integrity (SRI). These features help keep sensitive information from being intercepted during transmission. Similarly, use the Apache ModSecurity firewall on your VPS to help protect your website from common cyber attacks like DDoS attacks and malware. It’s also important to ensure that all applications and programs on your VPS are kept up-to-date as well, including the operating system and web servers such as PHP.

3. Disable IPv6

If your server has IPv6, the newer protocol, it is a possible gateway for cyber threats. Disabling it can prevent attacks and make your server more secure.

Many VPS hosting platforms come with built-in security options. These can include security advisors in cPanel and WHM software, a firewall solution like Iptables or UFW, and an application such as Fail2Ban that bans users after too many failed login attempts.

You should also use SFTP, which encrypts file transmission to and from your server. This is important for securing your website from hackers who try to steal data or hijack login credentials by sniffing connections.

Keeping your software updated is another important step for hardening your VPS. Whether it’s an operating system, CMS software, or plugins for your site, updates will improve performance and fix vulnerabilities. You can even set up cron jobs to perform these tasks automatically.

It is also vital to monitor your server logs and conduct regular security audits. This allows you to spot any suspicious activity and respond quickly to mitigate risks. Vulnerabilities are always evolving, so you should be prepared to constantly update and patch your systems. In addition, you should consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning technologies to identify weaknesses before they are exploited.

4. Monitor Your Server Logs

When it comes to securing your VPS, you must always be on the lookout for cyber threats. Attacks can come in many forms including DDoS attacks, which can overwhelm servers with excessive traffic, and malware infections that can damage data and cause website downtime. By implementing the best security measures, you can safeguard your online platforms from these threats.

The most critical step is to ensure that your server logs are being monitored on a regular basis. This way, you can identify and respond to any potential threats quickly. Monitoring server logs helps you keep track of important information like your website traffic, resource consumption, and error messages. This information can help you identify issues with your site such as a lack of function-level control or unauthorized access from hackers using brute force attacks to try and crack your passwords.

You should also configure your firewall to only allow traffic from trusted sources. This protects your server from unauthorized access and reduces the risk of attackers exploiting vulnerabilities. To configure this setting, set up a firewall on your host and add the following rule – start_ip>end_ip> -> /etc/firewall.rules – ‘all’, ‘trusted’, ‘no adv’, ‘disable ipv6’ – #

In addition, you should use a secure file transfer protocol such as SFTP to transfer files between your server and other devices. This will encrypt your data, making it harder for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information.