A compromised VPS can result in data loss, SEO penalties, and reputational damage. This checklist covers essential security measures every VPS owner should implement immediately.
Security incidents are not a matter of if but when. The question is whether you will be prepared when an attack occurs.
Immediate Actions (First Hour)
- +SSH Key Authentication: Disable password login entirely. Generate ED25519 keys.
- +Firewall: Configure UFW. Allow only required ports, default-deny all incoming.
- +Fail2Ban: Install to automatically ban brute-force attempts.
- +Auto Updates: Enable unattended-upgrades for security patches.
Critical: 60% of VPS compromises are due to weak SSH passwords.