The security of a website is the primary concern of any site owner. Web hosting companies are deploying the latest security measures and installing the latest antivirus and antimalware software to keep websites secure. Traditionally, web hosting was confined to a physical web server that you could use dedicatedly or in a shared mode with other websites. Over the years, with an increasing demand for better hosting services and the evolution of the virtualization technology, Virtual Private Servers (VPSs) were created. Web hosts offer hosting plans based on a VPS on two platforms – Windows and Linux VPS Hosting. These hosting plans offer a plethora of features and are more reliable and secure than their traditional counterparts. However, a VPS Server has some security vulnerabilities too. In this article, we will talk about some common security concerns associated with a VPS Server.
Common Security Concerns with a VPS Server
- Like any other web server, a VPS Server is prone to data breaches. This can be as a result of a hacking attack, a malicious code, or a vulnerability in an application. However, this is a security concern for many VPS users.
- Since there are multiple users sharing the resources of a physical server, there are multiple usernames and passwords. This provides hackers with an opportunity to find a weak link and gain access to the server.
- Without regular backups in place, a crash can lead to a loss of data.
- One of the biggest security concerns of a VPS Server is the fact that the resources are shared. Hence, even if one user does not take the security of his website seriously, then there is a chance that the server gets infected and causes problems for other virtual servers too.
However, these concerns can easily be managed by following some basic security steps:
- Ensure that you audit your servers regularly and check for vulnerabilities.
- Disable root access and use the ‘sudo’ command to execute root-level actions.
- Change the default SSH port number.
- Ensure that your software is always updated.
- Keep all unused ports disabled.
- Uninstall all software, programs, and applications that are not in use anymore.
- Ensure that the password is strong (one capital letter, two numbers, one special character, and at least 8-10 characters long).
- Use a firewall.
- Backup your data regularly on a local drive.
- Always use Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) for file uploads.
Summing Up
Regardless of the hosting type you choose, there will be some security vulnerability that you will have to fend off. Another thing you can do is buy a hosting plan from a provider that has the reputation of offering highly secure hosting environments. Such providers usually have a team of experts you regularly test for vulnerabilities and take preventive measures to keep attacks at bay. Research well and buy a good hosting plan. Also, ensure that you follow the best security practices to make your VPS highly secure. Good Luck!