Ten safety recommendations for cloud & hosted server environments
The digital world is full of invisible hazards and smart cyber adversaries ready to exploit any flaw. Imagine your cloud or hosted server environment as a castle full of valuable data. Only one unguarded entrance point allows these marauders to loot. The rise of cybersecurity dangers and reliance on digital storage systems have highlighted safety precautions.
This intricate virtual maze requires a complete map. Thus, we created our carefully researched guide: ‘Ten Safety Recommendations for Cloud and Hosted Server Environments.’ This article is your cyber-attack and data breach survival kit, keeping your digital fortress strong. Buckle up for this informative journey through ten essential safety checkpoints that will strengthen your online presence.
What does server security mean?
Server security is all the steps and tools that are used to keep the private information, resources, and assets that are stored on a server safe.
Because they typically store private and important data, servers are frequently the target of hackers. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to get around server security measures so they can steal information or make money.
If you look at most IT systems, servers are what make them work. The server is what lets everyone remotely access the same tools, functions, and data. If someone gets into the server during an attack, the whole network and system are probably also broken.
Keeping server security up-to-date is important. However, a weak password, missing or failed software updates, or other relatively easy mistakes made by people can cause a server to be hacked and cause the company to lose a lot of money.
To make sure the server security works, we need to look at it from different angles. First, we need to find and fix any problems that might be happening in the network. Then, we need to protect the server’s operating system (OS) and any software and apps that are hosted on the server, and finally, we need to protect the sensitive and controlled data that is stored on the server.
Cloud Cybersecurity: What Is It?
Cloud security means keeping computer networks and user data safe in places that use cloud computing. Cloud cybersecurity includes rules, tools, and steps that keep data, systems, and infrastructure in the cloud safe from hackers.
Since cloud environments are often complicated and hard to protect, cyberattacks are more likely to happen to businesses that store sensitive data there. Hackers can choose from more possible targets in the cloud, and the environment is more complicated for them to use. Businesses and organizations need to improve their cloud protection as more people move to the cloud.
Safety checklist for cloud and hosted server environment
1. Limit access to secure information.
Web hosts must control who can use virtual machines and who can physically get to computers. It is easy for hackers to get into computers and see information when people don’t care about data security. You should be able to log in using Secure Socket Shell (SSH) or a similar network technique. What Secure Socket Shell does is:
- A strong method for authenticating passwords
- Making use of public keys to authenticate
- Communication of data that is encrypted in order to enable remote management of systems and applications
A lot of web hosts will say if they accept SSH access. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption means that if someone tries to read your data, they will only see letters that are scrambled and hard to understand. Because SSL encryption is so important for website security, especially for shopping sites, many web hosts now offer free SSL certificates as part of their hosting plans.
If not, you will need to buy an SSL certificate on your own. Many search engines name websites that don’t have SSL certificates as “insecure,” which could turn away people who might be interested in buying from you.
Web application firewalls (WAFs) watch over and filter HTTP data to give web applications extra security. Web services can also be protected against attacks by these firewalls. Hosting companies should provide WAFs at both the host and cloud levels.
2. Make it easy to back up data and restore it
Your website shouldn’t crash or get hacked, so you have to rebuild from scratch and lose all of your information. Web hosts should offer both physical and digital backups.
If one server site is broken into, there should be a physical backup in the second place. You should save a copy of your website so that you can go back to an earlier version if something goes wrong. Your web host should be able to do the following:
- A storage plan that backs up your files automatically
- A lot of backups
- You can back up your website in different versions and for a long time.
3. Protect against DDoS attacks and help the CDN
Hackers often use distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which is a bad thing. Attacks called DDoS happen when bad people send so much data to a website that it can’t handle it, and users can’t get to it. DDoS attacks can be hard to fix, so stopping them before they happen is very important.
Web hosts do this by using a Content Distribution Network (CDN) tool. This group of servers in various places stores cached material that is quickly sent to website visitors. This caching lowers hosting traffic, which makes DDoS attacks less likely to stop service.
As part of their hosting plans, most web hosts include CDNs to help protect against DDoS attacks. If your web service doesn’t offer CDN support, you’ll need to add it yourself.
4. Selecting the operating system software.
At the moment, users can pick between operating systems (OSes) built on Windows and Linux, depending on the technical needs of their site. When it comes to protection, each of these two operating systems has its strengths.
Windows-based Web Servers
By default, there are limits on who can see private data. Before they can use the powers given by the chief administrator, standard users have to ask for permission and enter a password. This way, an intruder, whether it is malicious software or an employee, can’t actually do any damage.
If these websites have a security hole, only people who work for Microsoft can get to them. You can get help from Microsoft programmers, and you can also stop dishonest users from exploiting the holes.
Linux-based Web Servers
There aren’t as many known threats to the Linux OS because it’s not as popular as its rival. Most hosting services can also run programs that keep Windows-based malware from getting on Linux-hosted sites. The open-source group that makes Linux works quickly to fix bugs as they are found.
5. Verify the hardware’s security
When you buy a web hosting service, you’re buying space on a server. The server will then store your website’s files. Making sure the actual servers are safe from threats is the first thing you need to do to feel sure that your data is safe.
Web hosting security should include data centers where servers are kept, and only people allowed by the web hosting company should be able to get into these places. Bad people can’t physically get into servers because of secure cabinet racks and controlled entry points. Motion detectors, security cameras, and controlled entry points are also good ideas.
Server rooms are prone to both natural and artificial tragedies, including power outages, fires, floods, and more. For these reasons, server rooms should have automatic generators and racks placed on the walls, floors, or ceilings. In addition to being fireproof and waterproof, businesses can add an extra layer of security by backing up their data in places other than their main office. Make sure that the company’s data centers are not in places where storms and earthquakes are likely to happen.
6. Create strong passwords using a reliable method.
Strong passwords are one of the best ways to protect your information (Google Cloud Solutions Architects, n.d.). It’s hard for someone to figure out a good password. It needs to be at least eight characters long and have a mix of numbers, letters (both capital and small), and special characters. Plus, make sure that each account has its own unique password. If someone gets a hold of one of your passwords, this can help keep your accounts safe.
Changing your passwords frequently is also recommended. How often you do it depends on how important the information is that you are keeping safe.
7. Think about using a private cloud
Companies can have more control over their data with private clouds because they are safer than public clouds. Private clouds, on the other hand, maybe more expensive and not possible for all businesses.
8. Encrypt your files
For cloud protection, encryption is a must. It helps keep information safe from people who aren’t supposed to see it. Data that has been encrypted is turned into a code that can only be read by someone who has the right key. Hackers will have a harder time getting private information now.
9. Put security measures in place at every level
At every level of the cloud, from the network to the application to the data, security steps should be put in place.
- Network security steps can help keep people who aren’t supposed to be there from getting into cloud systems.
- Data breaches can be avoided with application security steps.
- Taking steps to protect data can help keep private data from being hacked or stolen.
10. Keep track of cloud activity
Companies should keep an eye on what’s going on in the cloud to make sure that only authorized users can get their information. Also, they should be on the lookout for signs of fishy behaviour, like strange attempts to log in or data transfers that don’t make sense.
Conclusion
Taking these ten safety suggestions for cloud and hosted server environments and following them can make your information much safer. These steps help lower the risks that come with online threats and keep businesses running smoothly. Keeping strong security measures in place is very important for keeping our digital assets safe. If you don’t do this, terrible things could happen, like data breaches or losing important information. Spend time and money now to protect your cloud and hosted server settings because, when it comes to cybersecurity, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
