Securing Your Server with Plesk: DDoS Protection and Firewall Setup

Closing Security Gaps with Plesk

Servers are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks today. DDoS attacks, in particular, pose a significant threat to hosting service providers. In this article, we will cover how to close security gaps using the Plesk control panel, implement DDoS protection, and set up firewalls.

1. Understanding the Problem

DDoS attacks aim to disrupt services by overwhelming the target server with excessive traffic. An effective solution against such attacks is the installation of firewalls and WAF (Web Application Firewall). Plesk allows you to take these protective measures.

2. Connecting via SSH

First, we need to connect to our server via SSH. You can do this using the following command in your terminal:

ssh root@server_ip_address

3. Checking Plesk Updates

Ensure that your Plesk control panel is up to date. You can check for Plesk updates with the following command:

plesk bin admin --update

4. Setting Up the Firewall

To set up the firewall in Plesk:

1. Log in to the Plesk panel.
2. Navigate to Tools & Settings > Firewall in the left menu.
3. Click on the Add Firewall Rule button.

Configure the new rule as follows:

Action: Allow
Direction: Inbound
Port: 80, 443, 22
Source: Any

5. Installing DDoS Protection Service

Using a DDoS protection service enhances your server's security. To enable DDoS protection service on Plesk:

1. Go to the Extensions menu in the Plesk panel.
2. Search for DDoS Protection and install the extension.

6. Setting Up WAF (Web Application Firewall)

Plesk also supports WAF installation. WAF is essential for protecting your web applications. For installation:

1. Again, go to the Extensions menu.
2. Install the Web Application Firewall extension.

7. Installing SSL Certificate

A secure connection requires an SSL certificate. To install an SSL certificate on Plesk:

1. Go to Websites & Domains in the Plesk panel.
2. Click on the SSL/TLS Certificates tab under the relevant domain.
3. Click Add SSL/TLS Certificate to upload the certificate.

8. Keeping Updates in Check

Finally, keeping your server's software up to date is the most effective way to close security gaps. You can check for updates with the following command:

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined above, you can enhance your server security with Plesk. These methods will help you prevent DDoS attacks and close general security gaps.