10 Ubuntu Server Best Practices

Ubuntu Server is a popular Linux distribution used by many organizations for their server infrastructure. It is a reliable, secure, and cost-effective platform for running web servers, databases, and other services.

However, it is important to follow best practices when setting up and managing an Ubuntu Server. This article will discuss 10 best practices for Ubuntu Server administrators to ensure their server is secure, reliable, and efficient.

1. Keep Ubuntu Server updated

Ubuntu Server is a Linux-based operating system, and like all other Linux distributions, it receives regular updates. These updates contain security patches that protect your server from malicious attacks, as well as bug fixes and performance improvements.

To keep Ubuntu Server updated, you should use the apt package manager to install the latest version of each package on your system. You can also set up automatic updates so that your server will always be running the most recent version of Ubuntu Server.

2. Disable root login

By default, the root user is enabled on Ubuntu servers. This means that anyone with access to the server can log in as root and have full control over it.

Disabling root login prevents malicious users from gaining access to your server. Instead of logging in as root, you should create a separate user account for yourself and use sudo privileges when necessary. This way, if someone does gain access to your server, they won’t be able to do anything without your permission.

3. Create a new user account and grant it sudo privileges

When you first install Ubuntu Server, the default user account is called “root”. This account has full access to all system files and settings. However, it’s not recommended to use this account for day-to-day activities because if someone were to gain access to your server, they would have unrestricted access to everything.

By creating a new user account with sudo privileges, you can limit the amount of damage that could be done in the event of an attack. You can also easily revoke or change the permissions of the new user account without affecting the root account.

4. Configure SSH for remote access

SSH (Secure Shell) is a secure protocol used to remotely access and manage servers. It provides an encrypted connection between two computers, allowing you to securely transfer files and execute commands on the remote machine.

To configure SSH for remote access, you’ll need to install the OpenSSH server package. Once installed, you can use the ssh command to connect to your Ubuntu Server from another computer. You should also make sure that you have strong authentication methods in place, such as public key authentication or two-factor authentication. Finally, it’s important to keep your SSH configuration up to date with the latest security patches.

5. Harden the SSH daemon configuration

SSH is the primary way to access a server, and it’s also one of the most common attack vectors. By hardening the SSH daemon configuration, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized access and malicious activity on your server.

To do this, you should disable root login via SSH, enable two-factor authentication, limit user logins, and configure port forwarding. Additionally, you should use strong passwords and regularly update them. Finally, make sure that all users have their own unique accounts with limited privileges. Following these steps will help ensure that your Ubuntu Server is secure and protected from potential threats.

6. Set up a firewall

A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It helps protect your server from malicious attacks, unauthorized access, and other threats.

Setting up a firewall in Ubuntu is easy with the Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW). UFW is an interface for managing iptables, which is the Linux kernel’s built-in packet filtering framework. To set up a firewall using UFW, you’ll need to install it first. Then, you can configure the firewall by setting up rules for allowing or denying certain types of traffic. Finally, you can enable the firewall so that it starts protecting your server.

7. Install fail2ban to protect SSH

SSH is the most common way to access a server, and it’s also one of the most vulnerable. Hackers can use brute force attacks to guess passwords and gain access to your system.

Fail2ban is an open source tool that monitors log files for failed login attempts and then blocks the IP address associated with those attempts. This helps protect your server from malicious actors who are trying to gain unauthorized access. It’s easy to install and configure, so there’s no excuse not to have it running on your Ubuntu server.

8. Enable automatic security updates

Security updates are released regularly to patch vulnerabilities and keep your system secure. If you don’t enable automatic security updates, then you run the risk of leaving your server vulnerable to attack.

To enable automatic security updates on Ubuntu Server, open a terminal window and type in: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y. This will ensure that all available security updates are installed automatically. You can also configure the frequency of these updates by editing the /etc/apt/apt.conf file.

9. Secure shared memory

Shared memory is a type of inter-process communication (IPC) that allows multiple processes to access the same data in memory. This can be useful for certain applications, but it also presents a security risk because malicious actors could use shared memory to gain access to sensitive information.

To secure shared memory on an Ubuntu server, you should set up proper permissions and limit access to only those users who need it. You should also configure your system to prevent unauthorized changes to shared memory segments. Finally, make sure to monitor shared memory usage regularly to detect any suspicious activity.

10. Use AppArmor or SELinux

AppArmor and SELinux are both security frameworks that provide an extra layer of protection for your server. They work by restricting the access of applications to certain files, directories, and other resources on the system. This helps protect against malicious software or unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data or making changes to the system without permission.

AppArmor is a Linux kernel module that provides Mandatory Access Control (MAC) security. It works by assigning profiles to each application, which define what resources it can access. SELinux is another MAC framework that uses labels to control access to resources. Both AppArmor and SELinux offer additional layers of security beyond traditional user-level permissions, so they should be used whenever possible.