How To Secure Your Cloud Hosting Server?
Cloud Hosting is undoubtedly one of the most robust and versatile web hosting platforms available today. Cloud Server Hosting is not only powerful but is also an affordable hosting solution. It is usually the go-to platform for websites upgrading from Shared Hosting. But it also makes a perfect hosting platform for new websites. It is easy to use, which makes it an ideal option for first-time site owners.
Cloud Hosting may be the future of web hosting, but like any other hosting platform, Cloud Server Hosting needs to be secured against the threats that are lurking in the cyberworld. Even the best Cloud Hosting needs protection. Now, hosting providers play their part and provide sufficient security measures; it is up to individual site owners to bolster that security with a few measures of their own. Think of it as a customised layer of security built upon a strong foundation of the cloud’s inherent security.
Here’s how you can secure your Cloud Hosting server.
- Set up a firewall
A firewall is the first line of defence against all the threats that exist online. A good firewall constantly monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent unwanted elements from getting through. It also prevents unauthorised access to thwart any hacking attempts. Find a compatible firewall that assures proactive protection rather than reactive security measures. Configure it to inform the site owner in case of an attack or infiltration attempts.
- Keep your system updated
System and software updates are important in more ways than one. They not only bring performance improvements and bug fixes but also take care of existing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malware or hackers. Some updates may be more tedious than others, but they are all important. Schedule your updates such that they cause minimal disruptions to the hosted websites.
- Replace passwords with SSH-keys
Passwords have become the de-facto ways to authenticate almost everything. But they are only as strong as their weakest points. Some people do not bother to change their default passwords, while most of us use easy-to-guess passwords. SSH-keys are a pair of long, impossible-to-break keycodes that do not work without each other. The public key can be shared while the private key resides on the server.
- Use encryption
While data may be secure on a server protected by multiple security measures, it is vulnerable in transit. Hackers can easily steal the data with a ‘Man in the Middle attack’. One way to secure data while it moves to and from the server is to encrypt it. This way, even if data is intercepted and stolen while in transit, it will be encrypted and useless.
- Disable the root login
The root login is the most powerful access in web hosting. It allows any kind of changes to be made on the server, even the wrong ones. With root login, a hacker can easily steal or erase data and lock you out of your server. If you have a Cloud Hosting platform, disable the root login and use the ‘Sudo’ command to execute any system-level commands.
Also, check out the following video for some tips to secure Cloud Hosting:
Use these tips to secure your Cloud Hosting Server and protect the websites it hosts. Do you have any security tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
