How to Protect VPS from DDoS Attacks

Web hosting is critical to the success of your business and message. Unfortunately, if left unprotected, your “home on the internet” may be vulnerable to various attacks from hackers and malicious organizations. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is one type of cyber threat to be wary of. A DDoS attack attempts to prevent visitors from accessing your website, causing serious harm to your customer confidence, web reputation, and revenue.

While a Virtual Private Server (VPS) offers better protection than shared hosting, it’s not immune to cyber threats like DDoS. When you protect VPS from DDoS, you ensure your website stays accessible and secure. Read on to learn how to implement effective security measures for your VPS.

What is a DDoS attack?

Imagine someone asking hundreds of their friends to call a take-out restaurant and order everything on the menu. Obviously, the restaurant could not keep up with the volume of orders.

Similarly, a DDoS attack usually involves a large network of computers, called a botnet, used by a hacker to target your website all at once. Once your website traffic is targeted, it simply cannot handle all of the requests from many locations, and your customers and audience are left in the dark!

How to Secure Your VPS For DDoS Attacks

A DDoS VPS protection service can mitigate these threats to your website. With InMotion Hosting’s DDoS VPS protection included in every plan, you gain peace of mind and uninterrupted service. We believe our customers shouldn’t have to buy extra security tools or worry about configuring a DDoS protection platform themselves.

But in case you want to learn how to protect your VPS from DDoS attacks, here’s how:

Step 1: Regular Updates and Patches

Outdated systems and software are prime targets for attackers. To protect your VPS from vulnerabilities, ensure you:

• Promptly apply stable operating system (OS) upgrades.
• Regularly update web applications, plugins, and third-party tools.

Step 2: Configure Firewalls and Antivirus

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) and antivirus software help safeguard your server by detecting and blocking malicious requests:

• Configure your WAF to automatically monitor traffic for unusual activity.
• Set antivirus software to scan your server for malware or infected files.

Step 3: Enable Rate Limiting

This is a technique to help you cap the number of requests your server accepts from a single IP address within a specific timeframe. Rate limiting helps identify and block malicious users while maintaining access to legitimate traffic.

Step 4: Block Unnecessary Ports

Limiting open ports reduces the attack surface available to bad actors.

• Close unused ports on your server to prevent unauthorized access and reduce vulnerabilities.
• Use firewall rules to allow incoming essential traffic, such as HTTP and SSH.

Step 5: Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Integrate a CDN to distribute the demand for system resources. A CDN:

• Acts as a buffer between your server and visitors, absorbing traffic spikes.
• Often includes WAF features to block botnet traffic.

Step 6: Use an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS)

An IDPS can detect and respond to suspicious activity in real-time.

• Monitors network traffic for unusual patterns and potential threats.
• Automatically block suspicious traffic to prevent DDoS attacks and other intrusions.

Step 7: Create Regular Backups

In case of a successful ransomware attack or server issue, backups ensure you can recover critical data:

• Schedule automatic backups of your files and databases.
• Store backups in a secure, offsite location for maximum protection.

Step 8: Review Server Logs

Reviewing server logs can help detect early signs of a cyber attack or other anomalies. Watch for unusual spikes in traffic or repeated requests from specific IPs.

Step 9: Have an Incident Response Plan

An Incident response plan will prepare you to respond quickly and effectively during an attack.

• Develop a plan detailing actions, including contacting your hosting provider and isolating affected services.
• Train your team to execute the plan efficiently to minimize downtime and data loss.

Leverage DDoS-Protected VPS Hosting

When you protect VPS from DDoS threats proactively, you safeguard your website’s performance, customer trust, and revenue.

With InMotion Hosting’s specialized server structure and 24/7 expert system administration, you can rest easy knowing your VPS is DDoS-protected. If targeted in a DDoS attack, our team works tirelessly to keep your website accessible and operational.

How Do I know If I am Being Attacked?

During a DDoS attack, you may notice:

• Your website becomes slow or inaccessible.
• Emails and cPanel administration pages don’t function correctly.

If you suspect a DDoS attack, contact our 24/7 US-based support via call, chat, or email. We can help restore your backups and mitigate ongoing threats.

For more detailed insights into server protection, check out our VPS Security guide to ensure your server environment is protected against future attacks.