EC Cloud

Cloud OS Security and Hardening

Written by Holla Koala | Dec 17, 2021 7:43:05 AM
Hardening a Server
It is the process of making a computer more secure. The host, application, operating system, physical environment, user, and sublevels are all protected by hardening. This is also known as "hardening" the system.

Increasing the security of your operating system
Setting up your website, web apps, or online business is nearly as important as hardening your operating system. Security plugins and WAFs aren't enough to keep hackers out of your operating system.

Managing a VM in the cloud takes some knowledge of system administration. Ubuntu and CentOS VMs in the cloud should follow these security recommendations: ssh port By default, SSH daemons listen on port 22, which means that if someone discovers your IP address, they will be able to access your server. Even if you pick a strong password, brute force attacks and system disruptions can still occur. Even if someone has the IP address, they will be unable to connect using the default SSH port if you change the SSH port.

Ubuntu/CentOS users, perform these steps to modify the SSH port:
  1.  Log in to VM Backup as root.
  2. The sshd configuration backup
  3. vi/etc/ssh/sshd config should now be opened in the VI editor.
  4. Look for the line beginning with Port 22: # in the file. There are a number of different protocols, ports, and IPs that we keep an eye on.
  5. SSH: service should be saved and restarted. Start SSHd by typing its command line argument.
  6. Now that the default port has been changed to 5000, no one can reach your server. SSH clients and terminals can also be used to change the port number.


Protecting Yourself Against Brutality
Web platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and so on are frequently targeted by hackers who resort to brute force to get access. To keep your Linux system safe from brute force attacks, use SSHGuard or Fail2Ban.

Failed login attempts are automatically blocked by SSHGuard. SSHGuard can be installed using the techniques outlined below.

  • The installation of SSHGuard using apt-get is simple for ubuntu
  • In order to install SSH Guard on CentOS, you must first download it from the SSH Guard website and then install it on your CentOS machine using - rpm -ivh sshguard-1.5-7.1.x86 64.rpm.


Fail2Ban is an SSH port security application. The iptables rule is changed if it detects a certain number of failed login attempts. Fail2Ban can be installed as follows:

Through apt-get install fail2ban for ubuntu and yum install epel-release yum install fail2ban for Centos


Allowing Password-Based Security to be Disabled
It may be time-consuming to change the password for a large number of people who use public computers. To avoid this, you should disable password-based login. SSH key exchange must be set up before you can disable password authentication.

  • A vi editor can be used to make changes to your SSH server's configuration.
  • Add PasswordAuthentication no
  • SSH Daemon to be reloaded. 


At any level of security, DDoS assaults can occur, so be prepared. Keep your cloud server's Origin IP hidden from DDoS attacks. Avoid disclosing the server's IP address by using load balancers with internet interfaces.
Server performance and security can be improved by using CDNs. Your Origin IP is not exposed when you use a CDN service. IPTables can be used to block suspicious requests, TCP flags, and private networks.
Use a firewall, whether it's a physical or software one.

Ensure that your data is regularly backed up
Having a regular backup saves you against a fall. Every cloud service backs up its customers' data everyday. If you're using Extreme Compute Cloud, make sure to enable daily snapshots. Because of this, it's easy to get back to work after making a backup of the full virtual machine (VM).

Preventing System Failures
It is imperative that the operating system be updated on a regular basis to protect servers from the most recent security vulnerabilities.

Initiate Port Closure
When running a virtual machine's website, it is necessary to open port 80 (HTTP) or 442. (HTTPS). Essential ports can be opened with the help of the Extreme Compute security group. The network ACL can also be used to fine-tune control. It also has rules for modifying firewall ports.

In addition to web hosting, Extreme Compute focuses on IT infrastructure management. Many small and medium-sized businesses have benefited from Extreme Compute's Internet-based technology adoption assistance. We maintain a team of cloud platform-specific developers. This aids companies in determining their cloud strategy and developing a strategy that is both reliable and cost-effective. 
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