How do I secure my dedicated server?

Compared to shared servers, dedicated servers are more secure because you are the only user with full data access control and responsibility over your security system. In shared servers, there are multiple users and one of them is enough to allow a hacker in and breach your security. Here, each shared server user is at a potential security risk regarding the data because there isn’t any guarantee of following the best security practices.

A dedicated server is safer and better than a shared server but it is susceptible to hacking attempts and various malicious attacks as well. It’s just like other hosting servers but with good value in the industry. It‘s easy to work with a dedicated server but the risk is always there. But, fortunately, there are precautionary measures that you can take to protect your dedicated server and avoid security breaches.

Security updates and patches

If your software is outdated, you are more vulnerable to hackers’ exploitation. Even if everything is right, outdated software can mess things up for you. To avoid this exploitation and prevent your server from becoming vulnerable to hackers, you should download all the security patches released, without even skipping one. Make sure you update to the newest security patch.

This can only be possible if you check for software updates and data access control regularly. Sometimes, it becomes challenging to install security updates and patches regularly. For this, you should opt for a managed dedicated server.

Malware scans

Viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware are the parts of hosting servers. Even if you don’t want to, they will come from different sources and affect your system as well as steal your confidential information.

The only way to protect your dedicated server is to perform regular malware scans. You shouldn’t wait for a malware scan; instead, you should perform it as frequently as possible. You can use malware scanners for the same, which are automated tools to protect you from security threats. You can opt for anti-virus software, as it detects and isolates the malicious software data access control before any damage.

DDoS protection

Distributed denial of service attacks or DDoS, bring down websites or even entire servers by sending a sudden burst of traffic. This is done to bring financial loss to the targeted business. The worst part of DDoS is that it makes your website or web apps inaccessible to users.

To prevent it and protect your website, you should opt for a DDoS-protected dedicated server. In this, you will find an integrated DDoS shield that monitors all incoming traffic. The shield detects the malicious traffic and diverts it from the server but passes the legitimate traffic, causing no interruptions.

Secure Networks

A secure network is something that will protect your dedicated server. So, you should look for secure connections when logging into your hosting account and avoid public networks.

By using a public network or any unsecured network, you will expose your credentials and bring problems to your website and dedicated server. No matter what, the network should be trustworthy.

Separate accounts for all users

The number of users depends on the system administrator or the primary user. And it’s important to give access to other users to avoid work centralization, which can delay the process. However, every user should have separate accounts with limited privileges. The primary user should only have all the access.

Limited privilege will not allow other users to install software that could be malware. The access should be such that users can do their jobs easily and comfortably. The admin should have a personal account too because always logging in with root-level access is not safe.

Strict password policy

No matter which hosting service you use, the password should be strong. If the password of your dedicated server is weak, it will become vulnerable to a brute force attack.

When making a password, you should use random numbers, and symbols as well as lowercase and uppercase letters. The password shouldn’t be easy to guess like your organization’s name and others. You should follow the same policy when registering other user accounts. Other than this, you should change all the passwords after every set number of days. Also, you should add two-factor authentication to your accounts.

Database protection

Hackers often target the database of an organization because they know that the database stores valuable information. One of the efficient ways to protect a database is that it should resist SQL injections. SQL injection manipulates the date in the database by inserting malicious SOL statements.

Another way to protect your database is to limit everyone’s access to it as much as possible. You can do this by keeping user privileges at a minimum. Other than this, you should delete any unused files and services as they expose users and various communication links.

Data backup

No matter how many security measures you implement, you are likely to experience data loss. The reasons for data loss can be several such as hacker attacks, hardware failure, or natural disasters. So, you should have a backup of your important data.

When taking a backup of your data, you should be a bit smart. You shouldn’t back up everything in the same basket; instead, you should have multiple baskets on different types of media. The best is to follow the 3-2-1 data backup strategy, meaning you should make at least three backups and save them on two different storage devices.

Managed dedicated server

Keeping aside everything, you should get a managed dedicated server, which is often offered by most hosting providers. With this, you will be worry-free about your dedicated server.

The managed dedicated servers are controlled by IT professionals. They keep the software and databases updated, regularly back up the data, and actively monitor for suspicious activity. In simple words, professionals take care of everything.

Dedicated servers are vulnerable to risks. So, without thinking twice, you should take these preventative measures.

Author: TechBlonHub

As a passionate blogger, I'm thrilled to share my expertise, insights, and enthusiasm with you. I believe that technical knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. That's why I take the time to craft detailed, well-researched content that's easy to follow, even for non-tech. I love hearing from you, answering your questions, and learning from your experiences. Your feedback helps me create content that's tailored to your needs and interests