Drupal is the largest open-source CMS platform, used across the world by millions because of its adaptive architecture, quick deployment capabilities, scope for digital innovations, free community code base, and scalability free from vendor lock-in. Its main areas of concern at its core are APIs, workflows, and media behind a strong and flexible platform.
Nonetheless, the Internet also presents certain risks, and therefore, website security is essential. In certain instances, additional protections should apply. The guide presents essential Drupal security tips to support hardening your website.
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Enhancing Drupal Security for a Better Online Experience
Drupal provides considerable functionalities and customizations for building and running dynamic sites. However, as increasing numbers of businesses and organizations adopt Drupal for their web presence, safeguarding business and user data becomes of the utmost importance.
Security is paramount for Drupal websites. In 2024, around 5,300 vulnerabilities were resolved through updates and patches, demonstrating that security is one of Drupal's positive traits. Understanding the security metric and the possible implications of ignoring it will allow you to protect the website and users from cyber attacks. Don't let it deter you from utilizing this robust CMS. Any platform you pick will ultimately face malicious activity online. Comprehending the threat landscape is the first step toward protecting oneself, followed by keeping Drupal security in mind.
Essential Drupal Security Tips to Follow
Check Your User Roles and Block Access Permissions
Drupal supports a variety of users and roles, including administrators, authorized users, editors, and anonymous users. After installing Drupal or adding new modules, you may manually assign and give rights to each role. To safeguard the website, use the appropriate responsibilities and file permissions, such as read, write, and modify. For instance, the anonymous user should have the least permissions, such as read-only. If the permissions are loose, an intruder might gain access to your sensitive information.
Install an SSL Certificate
The SSL certificate is intended to ensure the secure processing of sensitive data. Many individuals state that an SSL certificate is only necessary for eCommerce sites, whereas informative and blog sites do not require an HTTPS connection. However, SSL encryption is essential for the Drupal login page to protect your login credentials. Furthermore, the SSL certificate provides various SEO and performance benefits; obtain an SSL certificate from a reputable vendor to ensure safe data transfer on the Drupal website.
Drupal Security Logs and Audits
When you keep security logs, such as those provided by modules like Login History, you may examine crucial data, including user logins and activities, timestamps, IP addresses, and password resets.
As you audit logs, ask yourself a few questions:
- Who is logging in, and why?
- Why are they changing, and for what reason?
- Why do people log in at odd hours?
- Was authentication successful or failed?
- Why was the password restored?
- Do file uploads appear normal?
For instance, if a user modifies modules late at night or an IP triggers multiple failed logins, identify the source and take appropriate action.
Drupal Scanners
The longer a hack exists, the more harm it causes and the more difficult recovery is. Regularly scanning your Drupal website for issues or changes to file structures and extensions can help you stay on top of potential breaches.
Scanners fall into two categories:
Remote: These scanners check Drupal's public-facing components, such as nodes and modules. They are often free and easy to use.
Server-side: These scanners perform a full health check on your website's files, databases, and public-facing components.
Strengthen the Web Server
The server platform utilized by the Drupal website may appear to be an unusual target, yet hackers are always looking for and attacking web servers with inadequate security. Take the below steps to strengthen the web server against attacks:
- Bypass interfaces like cPanel and Plesk. These have their vulnerabilities, which hackers might use as additional attack channels.
- Replace root logins with sudo privileges. Root allows unrestricted access, whereas sudo restricts it to specific activities.
- Replace passwords with SSH keys. Instead of only memorizing passwords, users must have an SSH client that utilizes an encrypted connection.
- Disable all FTP/TCP/IP ports except 80, 443, 21, and 22. Filter port 22 based on known IP addresses.
Delete Unneeded Databases
Remove obsolete and unneeded databases from your Drupal installation to keep it clean and malware-free. Before you begin, save the current Drupal database to a local file in case you need to roll back. Using software like phpMyAdmin makes it easy to manage your database on the web. Begin by ensuring you have a recent site backup and then put it into maintenance mode.
Conduct Regular Drupal Site Backups
Website backups can help you recover your site if the worst-case scenario occurs. In conjunction with Drupal core and module files, your backup should include everything necessary for your website to run. This allows for a speedy recovery of your site once it has been infiltrated with a simple rollback. It is also suggested that you keep a good site backup before beginning any upgrade, especially when installing a module or theme for the first time.
Enable Two-factor Authentication (2FA)
The two-factor authentication feature requires a device in your physical control. Login credentials can be stolen or predicted, but 2FA needs access to a device, such as a desktop computer or mobile device. With 2FA configured, you must enter a code provided to that device to access your Drupal user account. You may enable two-factor authentication with Drupal admin or by adding the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) module.
Conclusion
In the modern era of technology, every website owner should prioritize Drupal security. Ensuring your site's security not only protects your company and its brand but also maintains the trust and confidence of your users. Enhancing site security might be a complex process regardless of how long you've operated a Drupal website. By maintaining Drupal core and modules up to date, meticulously managing user roles and permissions, and enforcing secure configurations, you provide the groundwork for a safe website.
