Disable password-based authentication ( PasswordAuthentication no ) in favor of SSH key-pair authentication .
Run system updates immediately upon setup (e.g., apt update && apt upgrade for Debian/Ubuntu or dnf update for RHEL/Fedora). Linux Server Hardening
Securing the primary remote entry point is vital for stopping automated brute-force attacks. Linux Server Hardening
Below is a structured write-up covering the essential stages of a Linux hardening project. 1. Update and Patch Management Linux Server Hardening
Prevent direct root access by setting PermitRootLogin no in /etc/ssh/sshd_config .
Follow the principle of least privilege to limit what users and services can do.