Ensure Remote Administrative Access Is Encrypted

Description

Ensure that the SSH server service is enabled. The sshd service can be enabled with the following command:

$ sudo systemctl enable sshd.service

Rationale

Logging into a web server remotely using an unencrypted protocol or service when performing updates and maintenance is a major risk. Data, such as user account, is transmitted in plaintext and can easily be compromised. When performing remote administrative tasks, a protocol or service that encrypts the communication channel must be used.

An alternative to remote administration of the web server is to perform web server administration locally at the console. Local administration at the console implies physical access to the server.