Game Server Security: Secure Your Server in 10 Steps

A secure game server is not created by a single setting, but by clean access, limited ports, up-to-date software, reliable backups, and traceable admin actions. The following checklist helps you reduce typical risks without making unsupported protection promises. It fits many game servers, but must always be adapted to the game, mod setup, and hosting environment.

Define the security goal

Before changing individual options, briefly clarify what should be protected: savegames, configuration files, admin rights, RCON access, mod files, and server reachability. With paid multi-game hosting like game-serverhosting, transparent operating processes also matter: you should be able to understand who has access, which changes were made, and how to return to a clean state if a problem occurs.

If you are currently switching from another provider, back up data and configurations first. You can find suitable preparation in the guide on moving a game server from ZAP-Hosting to game-serverhosting.

The 10 most important security measures

1. Use strong passwords

Use separate passwords for the panel, admin account, RCON, SFTP, and database access. A reused password makes several systems vulnerable as soon as a single service is compromised. The official NIST guideline SP 800-63B recommends long, hard-to-guess secrets and warns against weak, predictable passwords: documentation at pages.nist.gov

❌ admin123
❌ password
✅ Kf8#mP2$xQ9!nL4w (random, 16+ characters)

Store passwords in a password manager and do not share admin access through chat histories, screenshots, or public tickets. If an admin leaves the team, change affected passwords immediately.

2. Change the RCON password

Change the default RCON password immediately after setup. RCON gives full server access! Depending on the game, it can be used to run commands, kick players, change settings, or influence server processes. Therefore, RCON should only be active if you really need it.

Set your own RCON password, document the purpose, and restrict access to known IPs or the hosting panel where possible. If you manage Valheim, the Valheim Server Commands for Admin Commands help you consciously plan allowed actions.

3. Configure the firewall

Open only required ports. Every additional service increases the attack surface and makes troubleshooting harder. First check the official documentation for the respective game or manufacturer before opening ports.

RCON, SSH, and SFTP are management accesses. They should not be opened more widely than necessary. If your hosting panel reliably covers file management, console, and restarts, you may not need direct shell access permanently at all.

4. Keep software up to date

Keep the server software updated regularly. This also applies to plugins, mods, and operating system updates. Mods in particular can bring outdated libraries, messy permissions, or incompatible configurations. Therefore, do not plan updates in the middle of an active play session, but during a maintenance window.

• Update server software regularly
• Keep plugins/mods up to date
• Install operating system updates

Before larger changes, note versions, changed files, and the time. This helps you narrow down more quickly after an error whether a game update, a mod, or a configuration change was the cause.

5. Create backups

Backups are not a substitute for security, but they limit the damage. Back up worlds, savegames, configuration files, whitelists, ban lists, and important mod files. A backup is only useful once you know how to restore it.

• Automatic daily backups
• Manual backup before every major update
• Store backups in another location

Regularly check at least one backup through a test restore or a controlled download. This is especially important for co-op setups with world progress, for example with a Valheim Server to Rent and Set Up.

6. Limit admin rights

Only use trusted people as admins. Use graded permissions. Not everyone who moderates events needs full access to server files, RCON, or billing and contract areas. Separate moderation, technical administration, and account management if the system supports these roles.

Maintain a simple access list: name, role, reason for access, and date of the last review. Remove old admins immediately instead of leaving them there “for later”.

7. Enable anti-cheat

Anti-cheat can reduce suspicious behavior, but it does not replace good administration. Only enable systems that fit the game and are supported by the game or server ecosystem.

• VAC (CS2, TF2)
• BattlEye (ARK, Rust)
• EasyAntiCheat (various games)
• Server-side anti-cheat plugins

After activation, check whether legitimate players can still connect. Some mods, clients, or startup parameters can conflict with anti-cheat. Therefore, document what was activated and where players should report error messages.

8. Protect the server IP

Use a domain instead of the direct IP. With DDoS, an IP change is easier. A domain does not prevent an attack, but it makes connection data easier to maintain and simplifies changes if the target address or port changes.

Never publish management ports in public server descriptions. For community pages, the game address is usually enough. RCON, SSH, or SFTP data belongs only to people who specifically need it.

9. Enable logging

Enable logs for events you need to understand later. Good logs help with suspected cheating, misconfigurations, crashes, and unclear admin actions.

Log all important events:

• Player joins/leaves
• Admin actions
• Errors and crashes

Make sure logs do not grow endlessly. Set up rotation or regular cleanup if your system supports it. Do not store sensitive data unnecessarily long, and only share shortened log excerpts if they contain tokens, IPs, or private information.

10. Regular review

Security is a maintenance process. Plan a short check once a month: open ports, admin list, plugin versions, new error messages, and backup status. After larger updates, you should additionally test whether game joining, admin commands, backups, and restarts still work.

• Check logs monthly
• Remove unknown admins
• Perform a plugin audit

Check the result

After securing the server, you should test it from the player and admin perspective. Connect as a normal player, check game joining, and then deliberately test only the admin functions you really need. Check whether unauthorized users cannot run admin commands, whether backups are created, and whether relevant actions appear in the log.

For technical control, it is important that you make changes traceable: date, purpose, affected file, and expected result. This turns a loose collection of settings into an operable process.

Troubleshooting

If players can no longer connect after a firewall change, first check the game port, protocol, and query port using the official game documentation. Do not open whole port ranges across the board; instead, correct the missing allowance specifically.

If RCON does not work, check password, port, protocol, and bind address. Avoid short test passwords that are forgotten afterward. If a mod update prevents the server from starting, restore the last backup or temporarily disable the most recently changed mod.

If logs do not show admin actions, logging is either not active, the wrong log path is being used, or the game does not log these events in the expected file. In that case, document the limitation instead of assuming a control that does not exist.

Verification, limits, and safe rollback

The guide “Game Server Security: Secure Your Server in 10 Steps” applies to the server type described in the article and the version state visible at the time of verification. Menu names, available versions, mod or plugin compatibility, and required resources may differ after updates. Therefore, do not transfer values to another game, loader, or server version without checking them.

Before making changes to the world, savegame, configuration, or extensions, create a backup of the affected files. Then change only one related step and test it with the same client and server version you want to play with later.

A successful individual test is not a guarantee of performance or availability. World size, mods, plugins, player count, network path, and simultaneous load can change the result. Document version, change, and test result so you can understand later deviations.

FAQ

Do I still need to configure security on a rented game server?

Yes. Hosting takes infrastructure work off your hands, but passwords, admin rights, mods, backups, and many game options remain your responsibility. These settings often decide whether an incident can be contained quickly.

Is a strong RCON password enough?

No. A strong RCON password is important, but not sufficient. Also limit access, keep software up to date, log admin actions, and remove rights that are no longer needed.

How often should I check backups?

You should regularly check automatic backups and add manual backups before larger updates. An occasional test restore is useful because a backup without working restoration helps little in an emergency.

Should I enable all anti-cheat systems?

No. Only enable anti-cheat systems that are intended for your game and work with your mod setup. Too many unsuitable protection modules can cause connection problems or false alarms.

What do I do if an admin account was compromised?

Immediately revoke access, change affected passwords, check logs, and restore a clean backup if suspicious file changes occurred. After that, you should reassess all admin rights and shared login details.