ACLClouds
ACLClouds

What should I secure before my first VPS deployment?

Update the system, create a user, protect SSH, enable the firewall and backups.

Security on a VPS with root access is your responsibility. Complete these steps before exposing an application or a database.

Step-by-step procedure

  1. Update the system

    Install security updates at first login.

  2. Create an administrator

    Create a personal user, add it to sudo and test a second session before changing the root account.

  3. Install the SSH key

    Confirm that key-based login works, then disable SSH password authentication once you have a backup way to access the server.

  4. Configure UFW

    Allow SSH before enabling the firewall, then open only the ports you need.

  5. Enable Fail2ban and backups

    Monitor attempts, keep backups outside the VM, and test a restore.

Keep a console open

Test SSH in a second window before closing the current session or disabling password authentication.