How To Secure A Plesk Server

Securing your Plesk server is essential to protect your data, maintain server integrity, and ensure the smooth operation of hosted websites. Plesk offers a robust set of security features, but to maximize protection, it’s crucial to implement best practices and utilize additional tools. This blog post will provide you with tips to enhance the security of your Plesk server.

1. Keep Plesk and System Software Updated

Regularly updating Plesk and the underlying system software ensures that security vulnerabilities are patched promptly. Plesk provides automatic updates, which can be enabled to keep the system up-to-date without manual intervention. Additionally, ensure that all system packages and extensions are updated regularly.

https://support.plesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/12377849188759

2. Implement Strong Password Policies

Enforce strong password policies for all user accounts on your Plesk server. This includes setting minimum password lengths, requiring a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Plesk allows administrators to configure password strength policies to ensure compliance.

https://docs.plesk.com/en-US/obsidian/administrator-guide/plesk-administration/securing-plesk/setting-up-the-minimum-password-strength.71081/

3. Restrict Administrative Access

Limit administrative access to your Plesk server by specifying trusted IP addresses. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Plesk enables you to configure IP access restrictions through the Tools & Settings > IP Access Restriction Management panel.

4. Use SSL/TLS Certificates

Secure connections to your Plesk server and mail services by installing SSL/TLS certificates. Plesk integrates with Let’s Encrypt, allowing you to obtain and install free certificates easily. This ensures that data transmitted between clients and the server

https://docs.plesk.com/en-US/obsidian/administrator-guide/plesk-administration/securing-plesk/securing-plesk-and-the-mail-server-with-ssltls-certificates.59466/

5. Install and Configure a Firewall

Implement a firewall to control incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. Plesk includes a Firewall extension that allows you to manage firewall rules directly from the Plesk interface. Properly configured, a firewall can prevent unauthorized access and mitigate various types of attacks.

https://docs.plesk.com/en-US/obsidian/administrator-guide/server-administration/web-application-firewall-modsecurity.73383/

6. Utilize Fail2Ban for Intrusion Prevention

Fail2Ban is an intrusion prevention software that protects your server by monitoring log files and banning IPs that show malicious signs, such as multiple failed login attempts. Plesk supports Fail2Ban, and it can be configured to protect various services, including SSH, FTP, and mail

https://docs.plesk.com/en-US/obsidian/administrator-guide/server-administration/plesk-for-linux-protection-against-brute-force-attacks-fail2ban.73381/

7. Disable Unused Services and Ports

Reduce the attack surface of your server by disabling services and closing ports that are not in use. This minimizes potential entry points for attackers. Regularly review the services running on your server and disable any that are unnecessary.

8. Configure Regular Backups

Regular backups are crucial for disaster recovery. Configure Plesk to perform scheduled backups of your data and store them in a secure, off-site location. This ensures that you can restore your system quickly in the event of data loss or corruption.

https://docs.plesk.com/en-US/obsidian/customer-guide/backing-up-and-restoring-websites/creating-backups.78954/

9. Monitor Server Logs and Set Up Alerts

Regular monitoring of server logs helps in the early detection of suspicious activities. Plesk provides log browser tools that allow you to view and analyze logs for various services. Additionally, set up alerts to notify administrators of potential security incidents.

10. Educate Users and Enforce Security Policies

Ensure that all users with access to the Plesk server are educated on security best practices. Implement and enforce security policies, such as limiting user permissions to the minimum necessary and requiring regular password changes. User awareness is a critical component of overall server security.