Security Is Not Optional
Self-hosting gives you control, but with that control comes responsibility. Here's our battle-tested playbook for securing open-source infrastructure.
1. Network Security
Firewall Rules
- Default deny all inbound traffic
- Allow only necessary ports (443, 25, 993)
- Use fail2ban for brute-force protection
- Implement rate limiting on all public endpoints
TLS Everywhere
- Enforce HTTPS with HSTS headers
- Use Let's Encrypt for automated certificate management
- Configure strong cipher suites (TLS 1.3 preferred)
- Enable OCSP stapling
2. Authentication & Access Control
Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Deploy Authelia or Keycloak as your identity provider
- Enforce MFA for all users (TOTP or WebAuthn)
- Use LDAP/AD for centralized user management
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
Password Policies
- Minimum 12 characters
- Breached password checking (HIBP integration)
- Account lockout after failed attempts
- Force password reset on first login
3. Data Protection
Encryption
- Encrypt data at rest (LUKS/dm-crypt for disks)
- End-to-end encryption for sensitive communications (Matrix/Element)
- Encrypted backups (age or GPG)
Backup Strategy
- 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite
- Automated daily backups with retention policies
- Regular restore testing (quarterly minimum)
- Encrypted offsite replication
4. Monitoring & Incident Response
Monitoring
- Deploy Uptime Kuma for service monitoring
- Centralized logging (Grafana Loki or similar)
- Alert on anomalies (failed logins, unusual traffic)
- Regular security scanning (Trivy for containers)
Incident Response Plan
- Document escalation procedures
- Maintain an asset inventory
- Regular security audits (annual minimum)
- Keep a runbook for common incidents
5. Keep Everything Updated
- Automated OS security patches (unattended-upgrades)
- Container image scanning and updates
- Application update monitoring
- Dependency vulnerability scanning
Managed Security
At OpenSource.Enterprises, security is built into every Federated Core deployment. We handle hardening, monitoring, patching, and incident response — so you can focus on your business while knowing your infrastructure is locked down.