Firewall Configuration

Configure host-based and cloud firewalls for network security.

iptables

# Default policies
iptables -P INPUT DROP
iptables -P FORWARD DROP
iptables -P OUTPUT ACCEPT

# Allow established connections
iptables -A INPUT -m conntrack --ctstate ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT

# Allow loopback
iptables -A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT

# Allow SSH
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT

# Allow HTTP/HTTPS
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -m multiport --dports 80,443 -j ACCEPT

# Save rules
iptables-save > /etc/iptables/rules.v4

nftables

#!/usr/sbin/nft -f
flush ruleset

table inet filter {
  chain input {
    type filter hook input priority 0; policy drop;
    ct state established,related accept
    iif "lo" accept
    tcp dport { 22, 80, 443 } accept
  }
  
  chain forward {
    type filter hook forward priority 0; policy drop;
  }
  
  chain output {
    type filter hook output priority 0; policy accept;
  }
}

AWS Security Groups

aws ec2 create-security-group --group-name web-sg --description "Web server SG"

aws ec2 authorize-security-group-ingress \
  --group-name web-sg \
  --protocol tcp --port 443 \
  --cidr 0.0.0.0/0

Best Practices

• Default deny policy
• Minimal rule sets
• Regular rule audits
• Log denied traffic
• Document all rules

Related Skills

• linux-hardening - System security
• aws-vpc - AWS networking