Strengthening SSH security and privileged access control in Linux involves several key strategies. Here are some best practices to enhance your system's security:

Strengthening SSH Security

1. Disable Root Login

• Action: Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and set PermitRootLogin no. This forces users to log in with their own accounts and use sudo for elevated privileges[1][2][4].

2. Use Key-Based Authentication

• Action: Generate strong RSA keys (e.g., RSA 4096) using ssh-keygen. Ensure that the .ssh directory is secure, ideally owned by root or a trusted group[1][2].

3. Disable Empty Passwords

• Action: Set PermitEmptyPasswords no in /etc/ssh/sshd_config. This prevents users from logging in without a password[4].

4. Limit Authentication Attempts

• Action: Set a low value for MaxAuthTries (e.g., four attempts) to mitigate brute-force attacks[1].

5. Implement Idle Timeout