Divya
There are always excruciating reports about unsecured servers being hacked and melted with. It is extremely important to ensure the safety of your dedicated server and take measures to keep your confidential data away from the prying hands of hackers and malicious attacks. If hackers get into your system and gain control they might use it for unlawful purposes or they might infect your entire database with ransomware and malware.
What Are Dedicated Servers?
A dedicated server is a web server that does not need to be divided for the use of several users. Virtual private hosting and shared hosting include segregating the resources of the server between many websites and users. The dedicated server gets its name from the fact that all of our resources are dedicated to a single user. Several websites can be hosted on a single dedicated server, however, they need to belong to one company or user.
Dedicated server hosting has various types, but it mainly falls under two types, managed dedicated server and unmanaged. If you choose to go for a managed dedicated server, all of its responsibilities such as updates and maintenance will be performed by the hosting company. They might even take care of server security. Unmanaged dedicated servers, on the other hand, hold the user responsible for various tasks including security and maintenance. You receive a server that is empty and you can use its resources and way you want to.
Let’s take a look at all the ways you can keep your dedicated server safe and secure.
1. Execute a vigorous password policy
It is crucial that you set a new password for your brand new dedicated server. A default password might have been set by your host, however, it multiplies the risks of being hacked or of viruses invading your system. Companies or individuals should put into action the strategies mentioned below to keep your password safe and ensure it is a strong one.
- Set a combination of random letters that include lowercase and uppercase, symbols, and numbers.
- As far as possible try not to use words that are part of your personal identities such as birth dates or telephone numbers.
- Change your password regularly.
2. Install Security Updates & Patches
Software that is outdated is the most vulnerable element of your server that hackers use to gain access to your system. The majority of app developers take care of software security by sending security patches regularly that help takes care of any issues that might pop up. In case you do not download some of these patches, hackers might use the vulnerability that is left unattended. You should not trust programs that are outdated.
Delaying even a little bit in getting the new security patch updates could prove to be fatal. Hence, you should always keep a lookout for software updates and put them into use regularly. A managed dedicated server is a perfect option for those who cannot keep up with the patches and updates, resulting in outdated systems prevailing for longer than necessary.
3. Maintain your Databases
It is vital that you update your data and maintain it. Ensure that your database is not vulnerable to SQL injection and take measures to protect it. If your customers trust you with their sensitive information, protecting your database becomes even more crucial.
Along with this, you should also watch out for allowing only a few people access to your database and deleting data that is of no use. Your customers do not need to be able to access your database if it is not necessary.
4. Schedule Regular Data Backups
In case your entire database on your server is hacked, can you restore your website without any delay? Do you have a backup ready to go? Having regular backups scheduled of your entire database is one of the crucial ways to really protect your website from being down for long and causing irreparable damage due to being hacked or viruses.
Hence, even if you do end up losing your database to some kind of attack or it is compromised, you can easily get your files and data restored without much delay. The kind of website you run determines the regularity of your data backups. If you introduce new content often, you should back up your website more often. Backups that take place a few times a week or daily are optimal. You should also take the amount of space you have at your disposal into account while deciding how often you want to create backups.
Conclusion
The tips given above will allow you to keep your dedicated servers safe and secure. However, if you want to put these tips into action, you might also require the support of experts to ensure your entire database does not have any vulnerabilities. With managed dedicated hosting you can relax and let the team handle all of the responsibilities regarding security.
