Tag: Firewall

What Is Fail2Ban?

Fail2ban is an open-source software that actively scans the servers log files in real-time for any brute force login attempts, and if found, summarily blocks the attack using the servers firewall software (firewalld or iptables). Fail2Ban runs as a background process and continuously scans the log files for unusual login patterns and security breach attempts.

In this article, we will learn how to switch a Linux firewall from IPtables to nftables on Ubuntu. IPtables, which is based on the Linux kernel Netfilter module, is currently the default firewall for many Linux distributions. It protects against multiple threat vectors and allows your server to block unwanted traffic based on a specific ruleset.

What is Firewalld?

Firewalld is a dynamically-managed, Linux-based firewall management tool that supports network/firewall zones. These zones define the level of trust for network connections or interfaces.

What is Puppet?

In this tutorial, we will install Puppet on a Ubuntu 18.04 server. Puppet is an open core, server based, task management type of automation software that is primarily used to limit your interactions for many of the mundane, day to day server tasks that used to require personal intervention. 

What is cPanel? 

cPanel is a server control panel which allows users the ability to access and automate our Cloud Dedicated, VPS, and  Dedicated server tasks and, provides the tools needed to manage the overall server, their applications, and websites.  Some features include the capability to modify php versions, creating individual cPanel accounts, adding FTP users, installing SSL’s, configuring security settings, and installing packages to name a few. cPanel and WHM have a vast range of customizations and configurations that can be completed to further personalize your platform specifically for your needs.  It also includes 24/7 support from cPanel as well.

What is a Firewall?

Broadly speaking, a firewall is part of a network or server that is designed to restrict potentially malicious and unauthorized access to the hardware while still allowing outward communication from the network or server. 

What is Puppet?

Puppet is an intuitive, task-controlling software which provides a straightforward method to manage Linux and Windows server functions from a central master server. It can perform administrative work across a wide array of systems that are primarily defined by a “manifest” file, for the group or type of server(s) being controlled.

This guide will walk you through the steps for setting up a firewall using iptables in an Ubuntu VPS server. We’ll show you some common commands for manipulating the firewall, and teach you how to create your own rules.

After spinning up a new Ubuntu VPS server you may find yourself looking for a guide of what to do next.  Many times the default setting do not provide the top security that your server should have. Throughout this article, we provide you security tips and pose questions to help determine the best kind of setup for your environment.

Our last article on Ubuntu security suggestions touched on the importance of passwords, user roles, console security, and firewalls. We continue with our last article and while the recommendations below are not unique to Ubuntu specifically (nearly all discussed are considered best practice for any Linux VPS server or dedicated server) but they should be an important consideration in securing your server.