You wake up Monday morning. Your team can’t access files. Email’s down. Someone’s locked your entire system and they want money. This isn’t a movie. Most cyberattacks in 2025 are financially motivated, with extortion, ransomware, and data theft being the primary attack motivations. Your office server is the target.
The good news? Most attacks exploit the same basic security gaps. Fix those gaps and you’re no longer the easy target. This guide shows you exactly how.
Why Your Server Infrastructure Matters
The Foundation: Choosing Reliable Baremetal Servers
Before we dive into security protocols, let’s talk about what you’re actually protecting. Your office server is only as secure as its foundation. A shaky base means everything built on top crumbles when attacked.
This is where enterprise-grade baremetal servers come into play. Unlike shared hosting or budget hardware, baremetal servers give you complete control over your security environment. No noisy neighbors. No surprise vulnerabilities from someone else’s weak setup. Just your infrastructure, your rules.
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t build a bank vault out of cardboard. Organizations with unprotected or misconfigured servers remain at high risk of compromise as threat activity continues to persist. Starting with solid server hardware means you’re building on rock, not sand.
Now let’s secure that foundation.
The Real Server Security Threats You’re Facing
Here’s what actually happens in the wild.
Chinese nation-state actors like Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon are exploiting vulnerabilities targeting internet-facing SharePoint servers. Another China-based threat actor, Storm-2603, has been exploiting these vulnerabilities to deploy ransomware. These aren’t random hackers. They’re organized groups with resources.
The attack usually starts simple. Someone clicks a phishing email. Attackers get in through outdated software. They move sideways through your network. Then they encrypt everything.
Attacks are concentrated in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and Germany. But make no mistake. Kenya isn’t immune. Any business with internet-facing servers is a potential target.
Patch Management: Your First Line of Defense
Most breaches happen because of one thing. Outdated software.
Despite advancements in security, threat actors continue to exploit older vulnerabilities, underscoring the importance of robust patch management. The most effective defense against exploitation is ensuring all Exchange servers are running the latest version and Cumulative Update.
Here’s your patching protocol:
Set up automatic updates where possible Your server OS should update automatically for critical security patches. But test in a sandbox first if you run mission-critical apps.
Create a patch schedule Designate one day per month as patch day. Review available updates. Apply them systematically.
Monitor vulnerability announcements Subscribe to security bulletins from Microsoft, your server software vendors, and CISA. When they announce a critical vulnerability, you patch immediately. Not next week. Not when you get around to it. That day.
Keep an inventory You can’t patch what you don’t know exists. Document every server, application, and version number. Update this list quarterly.
Access Control: Lock Your Doors Properly
Starting with high-privilege administrator accounts, rigorously follow best practices for account security including using passwordless or multi-factor authentication.
Think about physical security for a second. You don’t give everyone a master key to your office. Same principle applies digitally.
Implement the principle of least privilege Every user gets only the access they absolutely need. Marketing doesn’t need server admin rights. Sales doesn’t need access to HR files. Avoid giving users administrative rights on their machines, since any malicious files they download will inherit these elevated permissions.
Deploy multi-factor authentication everywhere Passwords alone are dead. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access. Even if attackers steal passwords, they can’t get in without that second factor.
Enable MFA for:
- Server admin access
- Email accounts
- VPN connections
- Any remote access tools
- Cloud storage systems
Create separate admin accounts Your daily-use account shouldn’t have admin privileges. If a user needs elevated access, create a separate user account with the specific privileges needed.
Use your regular account for email and routine tasks. Switch to the admin account only when you need to make system changes. This limits the damage if your everyday account gets compromised.
Review access regularly People change roles. They leave the company. Their access should change too.
Every quarter, audit who has access to what. Remove accounts for former employees. Adjust permissions for people who switched departments.
Network Security: Build Your Digital Walls
Your network needs layers. Like an onion, but less likely to make you cry.
Segment your network Split your network into multiple logical segments so that you can isolate it in the event of a ransomware attack.
Create separate zones for:
- Public-facing servers
- Internal applications
- Employee workstations
- Guest WiFi
- IoT devices
If attackers breach one segment, they can’t automatically jump to others.
Configure your firewall correctly Enforce a prevention posture, emphasizing principles such as least privilege, deny-by-default and timely patching.
Default deny everything. Then explicitly allow only what you need. Not the other way around.
Block unnecessary ports. Disable the SMB v1 network communication protocol on all servers and workstations, as this will help prevent common ransomware strains like WannaCry from spreading across your network.
Isolate critical servers Keep Exchange Server instances off the public internet and isolate them within a dedicated network segment.
Your accounting server shouldn’t be directly accessible from the internet. Neither should your HR database. Put them behind multiple layers of protection.
Enable intrusion detection Implement an intrusion detection and prevention system that performs monitoring and analysis of network traffic.
These systems watch for suspicious patterns. Someone trying to access 100 files in 30 seconds? That’s not normal. The system alerts you.
Email Security: Stop Threats at the Door
Cybercriminals exploit human error to infiltrate the Office 365 environment and target sensitive data with ransomware through phishing emails and other deceiving messages.
Email is how most attacks start.
Train your team constantly Enhance cybersecurity awareness with regular training for all employees, teaching them how to identify suspicious email attachments and weblinks.
Run simulated phishing campaigns. Track who clicks. Provide targeted training for repeat offenders.
Your team should know:
- How to spot suspicious sender addresses
- Warning signs of phishing (urgency, requests for credentials, weird links)
- What to do when they suspect an attack (report it, don’t click)
Deploy email filtering Email is a popular vector for attackers to deliver ransomware, so effective blocking of certain non-essential file types such as Executables or Scripts is recommended.
Block dangerous file types by default:
- .exe files
- .bat files
- .vbs scripts
- Macro-enabled Office documents from external senders
Enable email authentication Use DMARC to protect your domain from being used in phishing and email spoofing attacks, along with SPF and DKIM.
These protocols verify that emails claiming to be from your domain actually are. They prevent attackers from impersonating your company.
Backup Strategy: Your Insurance Policy
Instead of paying a ransom, you can simply restore your data from a previously made copy.
Backups are your get-out-of-jail card. But only if you do them right.
Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule Keep at least three separate versions of data (one original and two backups), on two different storage types, and at least one copy offsite.
Why? Ransomware hunts for backups. Attacks on your backups focus on crippling your organization’s ability to respond without paying, frequently targeting backups and key documentation required for recovery.
Keep backups offline In a ransomware attack, the adversary will often delete or encrypt backups if they have access to them, so keep offline (preferably off-site), encrypted backups of data.
Air-gapped backups can’t be encrypted remotely. Store them on drives that disconnect after backup completes.
Test your backups regularly A backup you haven’t tested is just hope. Not a plan.
Every month, try restoring something from backup. A single file. A database. Entire server.
Time how long it takes. Make sure you know the process before disaster strikes.
Automate everything Tools enable you to make up to 3 automated backups per day and an unlimited amount of manual backups.
Manual backups get forgotten. Automated backups just happen.
Schedule them for off-peak hours. Verify they completed successfully. Alert someone if they fail.
Monitoring and Response: Catch Problems Early
You need eyes on your systems 24/7. Even when you’re sleeping.
Set up logging Enable and regularly review audit logs to track user activities and access to data for insights into potential security incidents.
Log everything:
- Login attempts (successful and failed)
- File access
- Configuration changes
- Admin actions
- Network connections
Watch for anomalies Monitor your file servers for the modification of large numbers of files with various file extensions in a brief timeframe.
Normal behavior looks a certain way. Attacks don’t.
Someone accessing files at 3 AM when they usually work 9-5? Investigate.
User downloading your entire customer database? Investigate.
Hundreds of file extensions changing to .encrypted? Disconnect that machine immediately.
Have an incident response plan Develop a thorough incident response plan to quickly thwart ransomware attacks in their early stages.
When an attack happens, you don’t have time to figure out what to do. You need a playbook.
Your plan should cover:
- Who to notify (IT team, management, legal)
- How to contain the threat (isolate infected systems)
- Communication protocols (internal and customer-facing)
- Recovery procedures (from clean backups)
- Post-incident analysis (what went wrong, how to prevent next time)
Regular review and rehearsal of the incident response plan are essential to maintain its effectiveness and preparedness of the team.
Practice your response. Run tabletop exercises. Time how long each step takes.
Physical Security: Don’t Forget the Obvious
All your digital security means nothing if someone can just walk in and unplug your server.
Control physical access Physical security in data centers is essential to prevent data breaches and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and physical threats.
Your server room should be:
- Locked with access logs
- Monitored by cameras
- Limited to authorized personnel only
One of the best methods for controlling access is to use multi-factor authentication, including badges and biometric methods of identification like fingerprint scanners or facial recognition technology.
Secure server racks Google data centers use hardware hardening including removing or disabling exposed ports and locking down remaining ports at the firmware level.
Lock your server cabinets. Disable front panel USB ports. Track who accesses hardware and when.
Protect against environmental threats Organizations should control and monitor temperature and humidity through proper air conditioning and provide both fire alarm systems and aspirating smoke detection systems.
Fires, floods, and power outages don’t care about your deadlines.
Install:
- UPS systems for power continuity
- Temperature monitoring
- Water leak detectors
- Fire suppression systems
Document your assets Maintain a complete and up-to-date inventory of all your servers, workstations, access points, cybersecurity devices and other business equipment, including their network addresses.
When something goes wrong, you need to know what you have and where it is.
Encryption: Make Stolen Data Useless
Even with all these protections, assume breach. What happens when attackers get in anyway?
Encrypt data at rest Encrypt data at rest to protect storage media.
If someone steals your server or copies files, encrypted data is unreadable without the key.
Enable full-disk encryption on all servers. Use database encryption for sensitive information.
Encrypt data in transit TLS encryption protects data integrity and prevents techniques such as replay, data tampering, or impersonation.
Any data moving across networks should be encrypted. This includes:
- File transfers
- Remote access sessions
- API communications
Exchange uses TLS for internal and external server communications to protect emails in transit as well as user connections.
Manage encryption keys properly Your encryption is only as strong as your key management.
Store keys separately from the data they protect. Rotate them periodically. Have a recovery process if keys are lost.
Advanced Protection Measures
Once you’ve got the basics locked down, level up with these.
Implement threat intelligence Threat intelligence-based management provides insights into emerging threats and attack patterns, enabling organizations to proactively strengthen defenses.
Subscribe to threat feeds. Know what attackers are targeting this week. Adjust your defenses accordingly.
Deploy endpoint protection Services to monitor should include endpoint protection applications like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which detect malware applications, potentially malicious executable files, and compromised processes.
Antivirus alone isn’t enough anymore.
Modern endpoint protection includes:
- Behavioral analysis
- Machine learning detection
- Automated response
- Threat hunting capabilities
Use security baselines Software and operating system security baselines help maintain a consistent security configuration across an organization’s network infrastructure.
Organizations like CIS and Microsoft publish hardening guides. Follow them.
They’ve done the research on secure configurations. Use their work.
Enable Extended Protection Extended Protection provides additional authentication defenses against Adversary-in-the-Middle, relay, and forwarding techniques.
This links authentication to specific TLS sessions. Attackers can’t just replay stolen credentials.
Creating a Security Culture
Technology alone doesn’t save you. People do.
Make security everyone’s job Not just IT’s responsibility. Every employee is a potential vulnerability or defense mechanism.
Reward people who report suspicious activity. Don’t punish mistakes (as long as they’re reported quickly). Celebrate security wins.
Stay current The emergence of AI and Generative AI presents new challenges while amplifying existing threats.
Threats evolve. Your knowledge must too.
Read security blogs. Attend webinars. Join industry groups. Share lessons learned.
Regular security audits Conduct regular internal and external audits to check implemented systems and processes for any vulnerabilities.
Fresh eyes catch things you’ve become blind to. Hire penetration testers. Review your configurations. Fix what they find.
The Bottom Line
Securing your office server isn’t a one-time project. It’s a continuous process.
Start with the fundamentals:
- Patch everything
- Control access
- Monitor activity
- Backup regularly
- Train your people
Then layer on advanced protections as you grow.
With rapid adoption of exploits, threat actors will continue to integrate them into attacks against unpatched systems.
The attackers won’t stop. You can’t stop either.
But here’s the thing. Attackers are lazy. They go after easy targets. Make yourself hard to attack and they’ll move on to someone else.
Your server holds your business data. Customer information. Financial records. Years of work.
It’s worth protecting properly.
Start today. Pick one thing from this guide. Implement it this week. Then pick another.
Security is a journey, not a destination. Keep moving forward.
