Securing your dedicated server is a preventative measure against server hacking, the consequences of which can be devastating. Compromised company data can cause exposure to the personal information of your clients and damage your reputation as a business.

Luckily, there are various measures you can take to protect your dedicated server. Let’s see what they are.

And yes, even a dedicated server managed by your hosting provider cannot cover particular security concerns you might have. If you belong to those companies that consider data to be their most valuable asset, then you should ensure the protection of your server and the personal and business data it holds.

• Weak passwords. Hackers can use weak passwords to access vital accounts through admin or root rights. Then a hacker uses software to guess the password. If the password is easily guessed, a hacker can get into a critical account much faster and easier. Using random and different passwords for different components of your digital infrastructure will make it much harder to infiltrate your server.
• Malware. Malware can get to your server through software that you upload to it. When on your server, the malware tries to collect the stored data. Make sure you thoroughly inspect the reliability of the applications you download. If it’s your hosting provider that manages server’s software, check out it they have regulations and security measures applied for potential malware and vulnerable software.
• No DDoS protection. DDoS attacks are usually aimed at overwhelming the server, so it can no longer process traffic and goes offline. Choosing a dedicated server with DDoS protection features can help a lot with strengthening the overall security of your server. Those are examples of how security breaches can be executed. Let’s now jump into the ways how you can shield your dedicated server from threats.

There are a couple of things you could do to ensure the security of your dedicated server. We list some of the simplest ways to strengthen the server’s security.

Skipping updates can be detrimental to server security because outdated software is one of the ways your server might get hacked. Since companies publicly state vulnerabilities detected in older software versions, cybercriminals can exploit the information to hack servers with outdated applications. Even if you slightly postpone updating, it means that you leave certain vulnerabilities within your server.

Note that it’s better to make several backups and keep them apart, in different places, for example, on a hard drive and the cloud. Additionally, protect your backed-up data with verification protocols and access restrictions.

Public networks are not safe, nor do they provide any security for your server. Virtually any user on the public network can issue a cyberattack towards you. To address this concern, it is advisable to implement a private network where you have a private IP and restricted access. You can also consider collaborating with an established VPN provider.

You have the option of using secure protocols for transferring data through the network. This aspect extends to online communication. To encrypt and secure your online data exchange you can use SSL certificates. With that, consider modifying SSH port settings to minimize the chances of brute-force attacks.

If you have the capability, acquire a dedicated server with the latest hardware on the market. It can and even should include a decent perimeter firewall to avoid any threats reaching your dedicated server.

You don’t need to have a vast knowledge of cybersecurity to start this journey. Take preventative actions that are available to you. And if you have a hard time choosing one, any one of the above (ideally their combination) is guaranteed to keep your server safe.