Your server is the most important part of your organization’s IT infrastructure since they perform a wide variety of functions such as email exchange server, database server, web server, FTP server, etc., each of which is critical for the operation of the business. Any issue with the server has the potential to bring the entire organization to a grinding halt.
Since servers are so critical for the smooth operation of an organization, they have become an attractive target for cybercriminals. Therefore, organizations need to pay special attention to the security and integrity of their servers.
In this blog post, I am going to share ten server security best practices ranging from physical security and firewalls to intrusion detection and security audits.
1. Implement A Security Plan For Physical Access To The Server
The first and most important security measure for your server is physical security. Other security measures will be able to provide little to no protection if a malicious actor can gain physical access to the server.
Imagine if someone is able to simply walk up to the server and plug in a USB thumb drive into your server. That is all that is needed to compromise the server. Your security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, etc. will not be able to stop them.
Therefore, you need to have a plan for securely managing physical access to your server. The server should ideally be located in a separate room and access to it is monitored and strictly controlled.
Here are some physical security measures you should implement:
Door locks and biometric access controls,
Round-the-clock video monitoring,
Controlled access to the server room using access badges or sign-in logs.
Ensure that visitors are escorted in and out of the premises.
These physical security measures prevent unauthorized access to the server, preventing data theft, malware infection, and a variety of insider threats. They also help safeguard against social engineering techniques such as tailgating and piggybacking.
Therefore, for any organization with an on-premises physical server, a security plan for physical access is a must since it helps to effectively mitigate security risks from physical attacks.
2. Use Strong And Unique Passwords For All Server Accounts
Given the importance of servers, they need to be handled with extra caution. It is therefore recommended to have stricter password policies that govern the users and accounts with access to the server.
Such accounts must be governed by policies that lay out an approval process for granting administrative rights or elevated privileges to the server. In addition to following an approval process, accounts with elevated privileges must be documented and unused accounts must be deactivated. These steps help prevent not only account misuse but also privilege creep.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication For All Accounts With Access To The Server
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security measure that requires two different forms of authentication in order to access. The methods of authentication usually include a username-password combination along with a one-time password, security key, fingerprint, etc.
This additional authentication step adds an extra layer of security to the username-password combination, making it that much more secure. So, even if the password is compromised, it will be extremely difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to the account.
Therefore, 2FA must be made mandatory for all accounts with access to the server.
4. Regularly Update The Server Operating System And Applications
One of the most simple, yet significant server security best practices is to keep the server operating system and applications up-to-date. Promptly installing the updates and security patches ensures that the server is not exposed to known vulnerabilities.
Operating systems and applications usually push notifications or alerts about critical updates and security patches. So, there is really no excuse for not installing the updates on time. You can use a patch management system to ensure that no updates are missed. It is also a good idea to install the patches and test the server outside normal working hours to have minimal downtime or disruption to business operations.
5. Install And Maintain A Firewall
A firewall is one of the most basic security measures for securing your server. A firewall monitors and controls the traffic coming in and out of your server. A common threat that plagues servers is that of data exfiltration or data theft.
Since hackers know that servers contain valuable information, they often target them with the intent to steal corporate information. The attackers try to access the servers and copy or move the data outside the organization’s network. In order to escape detection, they make the data transfer closely resemble or mimic normal network traffic.
Data exfiltration can be difficult to detect but can be prevented to a large extent by using an effective firewall with strict rules that prevent unauthorized traffic from entering or leaving the server. This can help prevent not only unauthorized access but also data exfiltration.
But installing a firewall is only part of the solution. For the firewall to be effective, you need to continuously monitor and manage it. Managing a firewall involves setting rules and policies, tracking changes, and monitoring logs. Firewall management is necessary because firewall vulnerabilities such as unused open ports and conflicting rules can lead to serious security breaches.
So, to keep your server secure, you must not only install but also maintain a firewall.
6. Restrict Access To The Server To Only Authorized Users And Devices
Servers are usually protected using two basic approaches- first, by reducing vulnerabilities, and second, by limiting access. While the former is preventive in nature, the latter is both preventive and remedial.
This method of preventing security breaches by limiting access is referred to as the principle of least privilege (PoLP). It is an extremely useful security concept that on one hand prevents security breaches and on the other hand limits the damage in case a security breach occurs. So, using this principle elevates the security of your server.
The larger the number of users with unrestricted access rights and privileges, the greater the possibility of abuse or error. By limiting permission and access to only those resources that are absolutely necessary to perform the jobs, security breaches resulting from accidents or errors can be limited.
7. Use A Virtual Private Network (VPN) To Secure Remote Access To The Server
While your employees work remotely, they may need to access the server for public networks such as the Wi-Fi at hotels, airports, or cafes. Public networks do not have the same level of security as your internal network, therefore are vulnerable to interception and snooping.
Nevertheless, remote access is a necessity and cannot be completely stopped on account of security risks. Thankfully, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to give your remote users secure access to your on-premises server.
VPNs use security measures such as advanced encryption and authentication protocols to prevent snooping on your network traffic and unauthorized access to your server. For any organization that wants to give its remote employees access to its internal network resources such as servers and applications without compromising on security, using a VPN is a must.
In addition to VPN, there are many best practices you can use for securing remote access. We have covered them in detail in an earlier blog post which you can access here: Best Practices For Remote Access Security.
8. Use Encryption To Protect Sensitive Data In Transit And At Rest
Encryption plays a crucial role in protecting sensitive business data stored on servers. It protects sensitive data in a number of ways. First, it ensures data confidentiality, i.e. even if the data is intercepted, it cannot be read without the decryption key. Second, it ensures that the data has not been altered in transit. And third, it can also help authenticate the origin of the transmitted data.
Therefore, encryption is necessary for ensuring data security and confidentiality. Consequently, it is essential for achieving regulatory compliance such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
9. Monitor The Server For Unusual Activity And Suspicious Logins
Your server also needs to be monitored for unusual activity, suspicious logins, and policy violations. When such activities are detected, they must be investigated and addressed promptly. This can also be done automatically by an intrusion detection system (IDS), which continuously monitors and analyzes network traffic for traffic patterns that may indicate malicious activity.
Timely detection of known cyber threats and malicious activities is critical for ensuring the security and integrity of your servers. Detecting suspicious activities early also helps you take remedial steps to prevent security breaches by nipping cyberattacks such as brute force attacks, Denial of Service (DoS), etc. in the bud.
10. Regularly Perform Security Audits To Identify And Address Vulnerabilities
Ensuring the security of your server is a full-time job. There is no security measure or system that can guarantee 100% security of your server for all time. You need to constantly monitor and tweak your security measures based on changes in your policies and procedures, internal systems, technology stack, and threat landscape.
Regular security audits help you identify security risks and vulnerabilities so that you can implement cyber defenses and controls that are most appropriate. These audits also help you manage cybersecurity risk effectively and improve your server security cost-effectively without negatively impacting the productivity of your business operations.
Conclusion
Server security is a vast topic and the security best practices shared in this blog are not exhaustive. However, they are a good starting point and will help you mount an effective defense against cyber threats.
Are you looking for assistance to manage and secure your organization’s server? Reach out to us by clicking the button below for assured and effective security of your IT infrastructure.
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About The Author
Hari SubediMarketing Manager at Jones IT
Hari is an online marketing professional with a focus on content marketing. He writes on topics related to IT, Security, Small Business, and Mindfulness. He is also the founder and managing director of Girivar Kft., a business services company located in Budapest, Hungary.