Hello friends,
The path to the web is exciting but also comes with challenges.
Especially in self-hosting, where responsibilities often rest with one person, it is important to be aware of the different roles.
In this case, the system administrator and web programmer are often the same person who manages both the infrastructure and develops the application.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to separate these tasks and view each role with its own responsibilities to implement a comprehensive security strategy.
I have spent the last few weeks focusing heavily on securing the servers and refreshing my knowledge.
I looked up a lot of information and compiled everything into a kind of handbook. I have already posted part of it.
https://forums.fivetechsupport.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=45031&sid=d4acfc9f8b522a17c59b6fe1b6d3f076Summary of the action plan:
Prepare the server environment (strong passwords, Windows updates, antivirus software).
Install and configure Apache (set up apacheuser, run the service securely).
Set file system permissions (only apacheuser has read/write access).
Secure Apache configuration (SSL, disable directory listing, access restrictions).
Set up network security (firewall, secure remote access).
Configure security headers (protection against XSS, clickjacking).
Install WAF (ModSecurity to protect against web attacks).
Protection against DoS attacks (mod_evasive, Fail2Ban).
Regular updates (Windows, Apache, PHP).
Implement a backup strategy (regular backups).
Set up logging and monitoring (Apache logs, IDS).
Prepare an emergency and incident response plan (response to security incidents).
By implementing these steps, your Apache server on Windows will be comprehensively secured and protected against the most common threats.
Best regards,
Otto