### 1. Disable Password Authentication for Root
Always disable SSH root password logins and use 4096-bit RSA or Ed25519 cryptographic keys.
### 2. Configure Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW)
Only expose ports 80, 443, and your non-standard SSH port.
### 3. Implement Fail2Ban and Automatic Updates
Automate security patches via unattended-upgrades.
Linux & DevOps
5 min read
Linux VPS Hardening: 10 Essential Steps for Production Servers
Step-by-step checklist to harden Ubuntu 24.04 and AlmaLinux servers against automated brute-force attacks, root exploits, and port scans.
Shift2Server Systems Team
Senior Infrastructure Architects
Published 21 Oct 2026
Key Technical Takeaways
- Standardizing on NVMe PCIe Gen4 eliminates database locking delays under concurrency.
- Indian domestic server hosting slashes round-trip latency to under 15ms pan-India.
- Automated hardening and SSH port isolation eliminates 98% of automated scanner attempts.
Topics:LinuxSecuritySSHUbuntu