Secure Web Hosting with AlmaLinux 9
Hardened Apache, Nginx, Firewall, Fail2Ban, and SSL Setup Guide
What's Included:
Key Highlights
- Complete hardened AlmaLinux 9 hosting blueprint
- Apache and Nginx production security configurations
- firewalld rule discipline and exposure control
- Fail2Ban automated intrusion blocking
- Secure PHP-FPM and MariaDB configuration
- Advanced SSL/TLS hardening techniques
- Log monitoring and attack detection strategies
- Continuous security maintenance methodology
- Ready-to-use configuration templates
- Production-focused security mindset
Overview
Learn how to secure web hosting on AlmaLinux 9 with hardened Apache, Nginx, firewalld, Fail2Ban, PHP-FPM, MariaDB, and advanced SSL/TLS configurations.
The Problem
Most Linux web servers are deployed with default configurations that leave critical security gaps.
Unpatched software, permissive firewall rules, and weak TLS settings make servers easy targets for automated attacks.
The Solution
This book provides a step-by-step blueprint for building and maintaining a hardened web hosting environment on AlmaLinux 9, covering security at every layer of the stack.
About This Book
Secure Web Hosting with AlmaLinux 9 is a complete, practical guide to hardening Linux-based web servers for real-world production environments.
Most hosting tutorials teach you how to install a web server. This book teaches you how to secure it.
Secure from the Ground Up
You will begin by understanding how web servers are compromised and why default configurations leave dangerous attack surfaces exposed.
- Common web server attack vectors
- Brute-force automation and bot behavior
- Misconfiguration risks in production
- The attacker mindset
Harden AlmaLinux 9 Properly
You will build a hardened base system using:
- System-level security controls
- firewalld disciplined configuration
- Network exposure reduction techniques
- Minimal attack surface principles
Secure Apache and Nginx for Production
Both major web servers are covered in depth:
- Secure installation practices
- Safe virtual host configuration
- Directory and file permission strategies
- Defense against common exploits
Protect the Full Application Stack
A secure web server requires more than HTTP configuration. You will harden:
- PHP-FPM execution environment
- MySQL / MariaDB security settings
- File system layout and ownership
- Service isolation strategies
Active Defense and Monitoring
You will implement automated protection mechanisms:
- Fail2Ban intrusion blocking
- Log monitoring and suspicious activity detection
- Real-time defensive posture improvements
Advanced TLS and Encryption
SSL installation is not enough. You will configure:
- Let's Encrypt certificate automation
- Strong TLS cipher suites
- HSTS and modern HTTPS security headers
- Secure transport configuration validation
Security as an Ongoing Discipline
The final chapters teach continuous security maintenance, patching discipline, log auditing, and long-term production security evolution.
By the end of this book, your AlmaLinux 9 hosting environment will not merely function — it will be hardened, monitored, and resilient by design.
Who Is This Book For?
- Linux system administrators
- DevOps engineers managing VPS infrastructure
- Web developers hosting their own servers
- Security-conscious hosting professionals
Who Is This Book NOT For?
- Readers with no Linux command-line experience
- Users looking for shared hosting tutorials
- Beginners unfamiliar with basic server concepts
Table of Contents
- Why Web Servers Get Hacked
- Building a Hardened AlmaLinux 9 Base
- Firewall Configuration with firewalld
- Network-Level Hardening
- Secure Apache Installation
- Apache Security Configuration
- Secure Nginx Deployment
- PHP-FPM Hardening
- Securing MySQL / MariaDB
- Secure File and Permission Setup
- Installing and Configuring Fail2Ban
- Log Monitoring and Alerting
- Installing and Managing SSL with Let’s Encrypt
- Advanced TLS Hardening
- Continuous Security Maintenance
- From Secure Hosting to Production Security Architecture
Requirements
- Basic Linux command-line knowledge
- Access to an AlmaLinux 9 VPS or virtual machine
- Understanding of basic web server concepts
