A VPS (Virtual Private Server) functions as a web server, and caters to the users of VPS Hosting, which is one of the types of web hosting services. A Virtual Private Server offers a cost-effective solution for hosting that ensures augmented speed, security, stability and performance. That’s why it has emerged as a popular choice for those availing web hosting services, and is being provided extensively by all professional web hosting companies.
A web hosting company specializes in delivering web hosting services that are meant to render websites accessible over the Internet, and aim at ensuring that these sites function seamlessly. Web hosting is of many types, such as dedicated, shared, reseller, cloud, WordPress and VPS. The most renowned web hosting service providers are usually referred to as the “Best Website Hosting Company”, the “Best Windows Hosting Company”, the “Best Cloud Hosting Company” etc.
VPS hosting, which utilizes Virtual Private Servers, can be availed through various plans from any top-notch web hosting company, such as HTS Hosting, in the form of either Managed VPS or Unmanaged VPS. Let us now elaborate on VPS and how it functions, prior to describing the ways in which the security of VPS can be bolstered.
Virtual Private Servers
As mentioned previously, a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a type of web server. Hence, its main role is to accept and fulfil requests for content (HTML pages, videos, images, etc.) of websites made by clients, which are browsers and mobile applications. These requests are conveyed through Hypertext Transfer Protocol messages (HTTP). The files of websites are stored on a VPS, and are delivered from there over the Internet whenever a request is received by the Virtual Private Server from an Internet connected device of a user. Once the user receives the requested web content on his/her device, the web page becomes accessible to him/her. The technology as well as the services that are required for this purpose are provided by web hosting companies, which primarily rent space on their web servers.
VPS is the key component of VPS hosting service as at the core of every hosting service there is a web server. It can be availed from any professional web host either as a managed service or as an unmanaged service depending on one’s budget and requirements. A Managed VPS provides the convenience of one’s server being managed by the professional IT team of the service provider. In it, the service provider ensures the VPS’ proper maintenance, installs all the necessary updates as well as handles the troubleshooting processes. An Unmanaged VPS/ Self-managed VPS needs to be managed by the user, without the assistance of the service provider. In it, the service provider’s role is limited to providing the server and the service. The user has to set up the VPS, manage it, install updates, and maintain it properly.
A VPS uses virtualization technology, and runs its individual copy of an operating system. It is meant to provide dedicated resources to each of the multiple users that are hosted in a shared server environment. A dedicated server’s environment is virtually mimicked within a shared server (host/parent server) by a VPS. Hence, multiple clients are able to utilize the same parent server’s isolated instances. The creation and configuration of a VPS is rendered quick and easy by it inherently being software-defined. A Virtual Private Server functions as efficiently as a physical server by emulating a dedicated hardware.
The multiple virtual servers exist in a shared environment but remain separate from each other. A virtual layer is present atop the operating system. This is implemented by the software, Hypervisor, for segmenting the virtual servers. This segregation enables each virtual server in a shared environment to have its own operating system and software.
How to Ensure VPS Security?
VPS is opted for because it provides better speed, performance and security than that offered in shared hosting and costs less than utilizing dedicated servers. Enhanced security provided by a VPS is one of its most important features. Hence, it becomes essential to implement and follow all the necessary measures to maintain the plus point of VPS, which is security, more so in this day and age where cyber attacks are commonplace. Let us touch upon the major ways through which VPS’ security can be ensured.
One of the main ways to keep one’s Virtual Private Server safe is by setting up one’s firewall. One needs to ensure certain configurations, regardless of whether one chooses a custom firewall or a pre-installed firewall. These include the following:
Filtering traffic, based on defined patterns
Certain IP addresses getting blocked or being allowed access
Carrying out rule audits regularly, and adding new ones
Closing unused ports
Carrying out updates for the existing rules
It is essential to ensure that one’s VPS is protected from malware. Hence, it becomes vital to monitor the uploaded files or those that are being uploaded to one’s VPS. For this purpose one can use a reliable anti-virus/anti-malware software. Additionally, one needs to ensure protection against brute-force attacks. Use of weak passwords often results in one falling prey to brute-force attacks. To avoid this, and to ensure VPS’ security, one must not only use strong passwords but also utilise tools that aid in detecting such attacks and thwart them.
Another essential measure that ensures the security of one’s Virtual Private Server has to do with changing one’s default SSH (Secure Shell) login. SSH is used by many users of VPS to log into their servers. It is recommended to use a customized login password rather than the default SSH 22 port login password. To avail an advanced level of security, one can use SSH key authentication rather than password authentication. One needs to be aware of something important here that when root logins are disabled prior to assigning authorized access, one might get locked out of one’s VPS.
For security reasons, one must control user access. For this purpose, various file permissions need to be set. Moreover, such tools can be used that allow control over process initialization, files and file systems, along with network interfaces, and access to user-management. Limiting access is crucial to protecting sensitive data.
It is extremely important to use the latest software versions, as the older the software version, the less effective it is, and the more vulnerable one’s VPS becomes. Hence, one must run the necessary updates for the operating system regularly. It is recommended to automate this process. Additionally, one needs to monitor the server logs for one’s Virtual Private Server. This ensures control over the activities happening on one’s VPS. That is why it is essential to track one’s VPS and software, along with monitoring resource usage, user activity, traffic levels, events, and errors that are generated by software. It is useful to set up email notifications with regard to errors and warnings, in order to follow such occurrences in real time. Moreover, one must perform backups regularly.
Last but not least, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates should be used as these provide an encrypted channel between the VPS and the client and ensure privacy and security for sensitive data.
If one follows these effective, time-tested security measures then one will be in a better position to ensure the security of one’s VPS, and reap the benefits that it has to offer, without any hindrance or trouble.
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