The rising number of cyber attacks and hacking incidents throws light on the need for server security. Web security is still one of the common issues which come in front of any online business. Web servers usually host sensitive data which is why they are more targeted than any other public face of an organization.
Securing a web application or a website can be done by securing the server itself and they are both equally important. There are service providers that provide you with a secure dedicated server that ensures complete privacy and security at all times. They also offer you a secure cloud server so that you can access your data from anywhere at any time without any hassles.
Why server security is so important?
Users can access several information assets from a web server. Server security is extremely important to protect them so that they do not leak to another suspicious party. An organization needs web server security because it has a virtual web server internet connection. If your organization has customer-facing websites, then it is crucial for your web server to have a layered defense.
Securing a web server can be a tough task that requires you to seek the help of experts. But with the right kind of research, you can save yourself from data breaches and leakages in the future. Many of these threats can easily be predicted and avoided while some will require you to spend some long nights in the office.
Such issues can hinder the progress of your organization and its work and can also affect its reputation and credibility. Therefore, it is necessary to take a few steps toward improving server security to keep your web applications protected.
Tips to keep your web server secured:
To host and run web applications, you need a cloud hosting service that supports multitasking and secured server access. You need an environment that consists of an operating system like Windows, web server software like Apache, and a database server. Attackers and hackers can easily corrupt your data if any of these elements are open on the web. This is why it is extremely crucial to practice the basic guidelines designed for each of these elements first.
Given below are a few tips and guidelines for a secure dedicated server to keep almost every web application protected.
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Disable unused default user accounts:
Ensure to disable the default user account which exists during the installation of the operating system. Since the system creates multiple accounts while installing various software. Keep these accounts under constant check and keep updating the permissions accordingly.
Another smart thing to do would be for every administrator to have his or her own user account while accessing the webserver Make sure that you make it a practice to not share each other’s user accounts to prevent any data leakage.
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Make use of the security tools that are provided with the web server software:
Web servers like Apache come with a module called mod_security. Microsoft has tools like URL scan that help admins secure IIS web server installations. Even though such configurations can be a time-consuming and daunting task that can be a headache. The peace of mind that comes with knowing that your data is safe and secure is always worth the time and effort put into doing so.
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Restrict remote access:
Make sure that you or your employees do not make use of any public computers or networks like internet cafes to access corporate servers. In case of remote access, use tunneling and encryption protocols for a secure connection. Make it a practice to use security tokens and single sign-on software so as to keep your business data safe and secure. Limit remote access to a particular number of IPs and user accounts to prevent data breaches.
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Assign minimum privileges and permissions to anonymous users:
Network service permissions play an important role in the strength of web server security. It is important to give the least privileges and permissions needed for a network service to run. Because if a web server engine manipulates through network service software. Then a hacker can use the account on which the network service is running to perform certain tasks. Assign minimum privileges to such anonymous users which they require to access the website and web application files.
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Remove unnecessary services that are running on the operating service.
Operating system installations and configurations that are set up on default are not secure. There would be many network services like print server services and remote registry services. These are installed in a typical default installation and they may not be used in a web server configuration.
As the number of such unwanted services that are running on an operating system increases, it leaves more potentially vulnerable portals open for malicious users to abuse your data. Switch off such unwanted services so that they are not started automatically when the server is rebooted.
Conclusion:
You can follow some tips to make sure that your web application is secure by improving server security.
Additionally, you can make a note to use separate environments for the development and testing of applications. Usually, there are some backdoors or source code that could expose any sensitive data like usernames and passwords. Exposure of sensitive data during the application installation on the live server while deploying a web application must be under the supervision of the admin.
Conduct regular penetration tests to identify potential threats and audit web security logs continuously and store them in secure locations. Stay informed about the tools like scanners and potential attacks that can harm the organization’s important data.
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There are many providers that offer the needed technical assistance which will help you resolve any technical issues to get a seamless experience. Avail of them so that you can set up your business website easily.
