Server security hardening
A server connected to the internet is probed within minutes of going online. Most break-ins use the same few openings: weak SSH access, outdated software, open services, and one vulnerable website.
The short answer
Server hardening closes the common openings: a firewall allowing only what’s needed, brute-force protection (such as cPanel’s cPHulk), SSH keys instead of passwords, automatic security updates, safe PHP settings, a web application firewall (ModSecurity), malware scanning and account isolation. You receive a report of what we changed and what to watch.
What’s included
- Firewall rules allowing only the services you use.
- Brute-force protection for SSH, WHM, cPanel, webmail and FTP.
- SSH: key-based sign-in, no direct root password login, non-standard settings where helpful.
- Updates: operating system, cPanel, PHP versions and services.
- Web security: ModSecurity rules, safe PHP settings, account isolation.
- Malware scanning, sign-in alerts and a written hardening report.
How we do it
- Audit the server: open ports, services, versions, accounts and logs.
- Fix urgent issues first.
- Harden step by step, testing each website as we go.
- Set up alerts and scanning.
- Report what changed and what to review regularly.
Hardening without breaking things
The risk of hardening is locking out a service that a website or a customer depends on. We change one area at a time and test every site and email account after each step, with a way back if something needs adjusting.
Common questions
Our server was hacked. Can you help?
Yes: we find how it happened, clean it, close the opening, and then harden the server so it doesn’t happen again.
Will hardening affect our websites?
It shouldn’t, and we test each site after every change to make sure.
Is this for cPanel servers only?
No. We harden Linux servers with or without a control panel.