Securing and Automating a Cloud Server
The first time I spun up a cloud server, I thought the hard part was over. It wasn't. The server was open to the world: root login enabled, port 22 broadcasting itself to every scanner on the internet, no firewall, and no certificate.
I checked /var/log/auth.log a few hours later and found hundreds of failed login attempts. That was the moment I understood why SSH hardening isn't optional.
Why SSH Hardening Matters
SSH is the front door to your server. By default, that door is wide open: port 22, password authentication allowed, and root login permitted. Automated bots scan millions of IP addresses every hour looking for exactly this.
