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UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is the standard firewall front-end on Ubuntu and Debian. A correctly configured firewall is one of the most important steps after deploying any new VPS — it ensures only the services you intend to expose are reachable from the internet.

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu or Debian VPS
• Root or sudo access
• SSH access to the server

Step 1 — Install UFW

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ufw -y

Step 2 — Set Default Policies

sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing

Step 3 — Allow SSH BEFORE Enabling UFW

This step is critical — skipping it will lock you out.

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH

If you use a custom SSH port:

sudo ufw allow 2222/tcp

Step 4 — Allow Web Traffic (if applicable)

sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp

Or use an application profile:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Step 5 — Enable UFW

sudo ufw enable

Confirm with y when prompted.

Step 6 — Review Active Rules

sudo ufw status numbered

Allowing Access From a Specific IP Only

For admin panels or databases that shouldn't be public:

sudo ufw allow from 203.0.113.10 to any port 2222 proto tcp

Deleting a Rule

sudo ufw status numbered
sudo ufw delete 3

Rate-Limiting SSH

UFW can automatically throttle repeated connection attempts:

sudo ufw limit OpenSSH

Common Ports Reference

Never open database ports (3306, 5432, 6379...) to the public internet unless absolutely required — restrict them to specific IPs instead.

Common Errors

Lost SSH access after enabling UFW — the SSH rule was not added first. Use your provider's console to log in and fix the rules.

Website unreachable — verify ports 80/443 are allowed: sudo ufw status.

Best Practices

• Deny by default, allow explicitly — never the reverse
• Combine UFW with Fail2Ban for dynamic protection
• Review firewall rules after installing any new service

FAQ

Does UFW replace iptables?
No, UFW is a simplified front-end that manages iptables/nftables rules for you.

Can I allow only specific countries or IP ranges?
Yes, using CIDR notation in ufw allow from rules, though for country-level blocking a dedicated tool like GeoIP with iptables is more appropriate.

Continue Reading

• SSH Hardening: Change the Port, Disable Root Login & Use SSH Keys
• How to Install and Configure Fail2Ban
• VPS Security Checklist for Beginners

Browse more articles in Server Security & Hardening.