Essential Post-Installation Checklist for AlmaLinux Production Servers

Deploying a new server is a foundational step in building robust IT infrastructure. For many organizations and individual users seeking a stable, open-source alternative to CentOS, AlmaLinux has emerged as a leading choice. Based on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) source code, AlmaLinux offers the reliability and compatibility needed for demanding production workloads. However, simply installing the operating system is just the beginning. To ensure your AlmaLinux server is secure, efficient, and ready for the challenges of a production environment, a series of crucial post-installation steps must be meticulously followed.

This comprehensive checklist serves as your guide through the critical configurations and hardening procedures necessary to transform a fresh AlmaLinux installation into a production-ready powerhouse. We'll delve into essential tasks ranging from fundamental system updates and network configuration to advanced security measures and preparing for ongoing maintenance and monitoring. While the original resource hinted at nine key areas, a truly production-grade setup requires a more in-depth approach, covering numerous interconnected aspects of system administration.

Let's embark on this journey to secure and optimize your AlmaLinux server, ensuring it provides a stable and reliable platform for your applications and services.

1. Perform a Full System Update

The very first action after installing any operating system, especially one destined for production, should be to update all installed packages. Software is constantly being refined, with developers fixing bugs, improving performance, and, most critically, patching security vulnerabilities. Running outdated software exposes your server to known exploits.

AlmaLinux, like other RHEL derivatives, uses the dnf package manager (or yum, which is symlinked to dnf in modern versions). Updating the system is a straightforward process executed from the command line with root privileges.

Open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf update -y

The sudo command executes the command with superuser privileges. dnf update checks all configured repositories for newer versions of installed packages and their dependencies. The -y flag automatically confirms all prompts, allowing the update to proceed without manual intervention. While convenient, be cautious with -y in production if you need to review package changes before applying them. For a first post-install update, it's generally safe.

This process downloads and installs all available updates. Depending on the age of the installation media and the speed of your internet connection, this could take some time. Once complete, it's often a good idea to reboot the server, especially if kernel updates were applied, to ensure the new kernel is loaded and all services are running with the updated libraries.

sudo reboot

Keeping your system updated is not a one-time task. It should be a regular part of your server maintenance routine. Implementing automated updates for security patches is highly recommended for production systems, though full system upgrades might require more careful scheduling and testing.

2. Configure Network Settings and Hostname

While the installer usually handles basic network configuration, verifying and potentially adjusting these settings is crucial for a production server. This includes setting a static IP address (recommended for servers), configuring DNS servers, and ensuring the hostname is correctly set.

Setting a Static IP Address

Production servers typically require a static IP address so that their location on the network doesn't change. This is essential for DNS records, firewall rules, and applications that rely on a fixed address.

AlmaLinux uses NetworkManager by default. You can configure network interfaces using command-line tools like nmcli or by editing configuration files in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ (though nmcli is the preferred modern approach).

To configure a static IP using nmcli:

First, identify your network interface name (e.g., eth0, enp0s3):

nmcli connection show

Then, modify the connection. Replace <interface_name>, <static_ip>, <gateway_ip>, and <dns_ip> with your actual network details:

sudo nmcli connection modify <interface_name> ipv4.method manual ipv4.addresses <static_ip>/<subnet_mask_bits> ipv4.gateway <gateway_ip> ipv4.dns <dns_ip> autoconnect yes

Finally, bring the connection down and up to apply changes:

sudo nmcli connection down <interface_name>
sudo nmcli connection up <interface_name>

Setting the Hostname

A descriptive hostname is important for identifying your server on the network and in logs. Set a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) if your server will be publicly accessible or part of a domain.

Use the hostnamectl command:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname your_server_fqdn.example.com

Verify the change:

hostnamectl

Ensure the hostname resolves correctly by checking the /etc/hosts file or your DNS server configuration.

3. Secure SSH Access

SSH (Secure Shell) is the primary method for remote server administration. Securing your SSH configuration is paramount to preventing unauthorized access.

Edit the SSH daemon configuration file, usually located at /etc/ssh/sshd_config.

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Key security measures include:

• Change the Default Port: Running SSH on a non-standard port (e.g., 2222 instead of 22) reduces automated scanning attempts. Find the line #Port 22, uncomment it, and change 22 to your desired port number.

  Port 2222

  Remember to update your firewall rules to allow traffic on the new port.

• Disable Root Login: Logging in directly as the root user is risky. It's better to log in as a regular user and use sudo for administrative tasks. Find the line #PermitRootLogin yes, uncomment it, and change yes to no.

  PermitRootLogin no

• Disable Password Authentication (Optional but Recommended): For maximum security, use SSH key pairs instead of passwords. This prevents brute-force attacks targeting passwords. Find the line #PasswordAuthentication yes, uncomment it, and change yes to no.

  PasswordAuthentication no

  Note: Ensure you have configured SSH key-based authentication and tested it thoroughly *before* disabling password authentication, otherwise you might lock yourself out.

• Limit User Access: Restrict which users or groups are allowed to log in via SSH using AllowUsers or AllowGroups directives.

  AllowUsers your_username another_user
  # OR
  AllowGroups sshusers

After making changes, restart the SSH service:

sudo systemctl restart sshd

Always test your SSH connection from another machine after making changes to ensure you can still log in before closing your current session.

4. Configure the Firewall (firewalld)

AlmaLinux uses firewalld as its default firewall management tool. A firewall is a critical security layer that controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules. By default, firewalld might be quite restrictive, or it might allow SSH. You need to configure it to allow only the services your server needs to provide.

Check the current status:

sudo systemctl status firewalld
sudo firewall-cmd --state

Check active zones and allowed services:

sudo firewall-cmd --get-active-zones
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --list-services

The public zone is typically used for external interfaces.

To allow specific services (e.g., SSH on the default port 22, HTTP, HTTPS):

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-service=ssh --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-service=http --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-service=https --permanent

If you changed the SSH port, allow the custom port instead of the 'ssh' service name:

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=2222/tcp --permanent

The --permanent flag makes the changes persistent across reboots. You need to reload firewalld for the permanent rules to take effect in the current session:

sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Only open ports for services that are absolutely necessary. This minimizes the attack surface.

5. Install and Configure Essential Packages

A minimal AlmaLinux installation might lack tools necessary for administration, monitoring, and security. Install packages that are commonly needed in a production environment.

Useful tools often include:

• wget and curl: For downloading files from the internet.
• vim or nano: Text editors (one is usually pre-installed, but you might prefer a different one).
• htop: An interactive process viewer.
• net-tools: Provides older but still useful networking utilities like netstat and ifconfig.
• sysstat: Provides utilities for performance monitoring (e.g., iostat, vmstat).
• fail2ban: Helps protect against brute-force attacks by banning malicious IPs.
• git: If you need version control.

Install them using dnf:

sudo dnf install -y wget curl htop net-tools sysstat fail2ban git

After installing fail2ban, configure it by copying the default configuration file and editing the copy:

sudo cp /etc/fail2ban/jail.conf /etc/fail2ban/jail.local
sudo nano /etc/fail2ban/jail.local

Enable the SSH jail (and others as needed) by changing enabled = false to enabled = true under the relevant section (e.g., [sshd]). You can also adjust parameters like bantime and maxretry. Start and enable the service:

sudo systemctl start fail2ban
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban

The specific packages you need will depend heavily on the server's role, but installing a core set of utilities is a good starting point.

6. Configure SELinux

SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) is a mandatory access control (MAC) security mechanism that provides an extra layer of security beyond standard Linux permissions. It's enabled and set to enforcing mode by default in AlmaLinux, and it's highly recommended to keep it that way for production systems.

While SELinux can be complex, understanding its basics and how to manage it is crucial. Check its status:

sestatus

Output should show SELinux status: enabled and Current mode: enforcing.

If you encounter issues where SELinux is blocking legitimate actions, the audit logs (/var/log/audit/audit.log) are your primary resource. The ausearch and aureport tools help analyze these logs. The setroubleshoot-server package and the sealert command can also help diagnose and suggest solutions for SELinux denials.

sudo dnf install -y setroubleshoot-server
sudo systemctl start setroubleshootd
sudo systemctl enable setroubleshootd

When troubleshooting, resist the urge to disable SELinux (setting it to permissive or disabled) permanently. Instead, identify the specific denial and create a custom SELinux policy module to allow the required action. This maintains the security benefits of SELinux while allowing your applications to function correctly.

Managing SELinux effectively is a key skill for administering RHEL-based systems in production. It significantly enhances the server's security posture against zero-day exploits and misconfigurations.

7. Set Up User Accounts and Permissions

Running services or performing daily tasks as the root user is a security risk. Create dedicated user accounts for administration and for running specific applications or services.

Create a new user:

sudo adduser your_new_username
sudo passwd your_new_username

Grant the user administrative privileges by adding them to the wheel group (which is configured by default to have sudo access):

sudo usermod -aG wheel your_new_username

Log out of the root session (if you are in one) and log back in as the new user. Test sudo by running a command like sudo dnf update (you'll be prompted for the user's password).

For applications, create service users with minimal privileges necessary to run the application. Do not give service users login shells or home directories unless absolutely required.

sudo useradd --system --no-create-home --shell /sbin/nologin app_service_user

Proper user and group management, combined with appropriate file permissions, is fundamental to a secure Linux system. Regularly review user accounts and remove those that are no longer needed.

8. Configure Time Synchronization (NTP)

Accurate system time is essential for logging, security (e.g., correlating events across multiple systems), and many network services. Configure your server to synchronize its time using the Network Time Protocol (NTP).

AlmaLinux uses chronyd by default for NTP synchronization. Check its status:

sudo systemctl status chronyd

It should be active and running. The default configuration in /etc/chrony.conf usually points to public NTP servers. You can verify or change these servers if you have internal NTP sources or preferred public ones.

sudo nano /etc/chrony.conf

Look for lines starting with server. You can add or remove servers here. For example:

server 0.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 1.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 2.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst
server 3.centos.pool.ntp.org iburst

After modifying the configuration, restart the chronyd service:

sudo systemctl restart chronyd

Check synchronization status:

chronyc sources
chronyc tracking

Ensure your server is synchronizing with a reliable time source.

9. Set Up Logging and Monitoring

Knowing what's happening on your server is vital for security, performance, and troubleshooting. Configure system logging and set up monitoring tools.

AlmaLinux uses rsyslog and journald for logging. By default, logs are stored locally in /var/log. For production environments, consider setting up remote logging to a centralized log management system (like an ELK stack, Splunk, or Graylog). This makes it easier to analyze logs from multiple servers and ensures logs are preserved even if a server is compromised.

Monitoring involves tracking system resources (CPU, memory, disk I/O, network traffic), service availability, and application performance. Tools like Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus/Grafana, or commercial solutions can provide valuable insights and alert you to potential issues before they cause outages.

Install basic monitoring tools like sysstat (already covered) and explore more advanced options based on your infrastructure size and complexity. Setting up email alerts for critical system events (e.g., disk full, service failure) is a minimum requirement for production servers.

10. Configure Automatic Security Updates

While manual updates are necessary initially, automating the application of security patches is a best practice for production servers to minimize the window of vulnerability. AlmaLinux provides the dnf-automatic package for this purpose.

Install the package:

sudo dnf install -y dnf-automatic

Configure dnf-automatic by editing its configuration file, usually at /etc/dnf/automatic.conf.

sudo nano /etc/dnf/automatic.conf

Key settings to review:

• upgrade_type: Set to security to apply only security updates, or default for all updates. For production, starting with security is often safer.
• download_updates: Set to yes to download updates.
• apply_updates: Set to yes to automatically apply downloaded updates.
• emit_via: Configure how notifications are sent (e.g., email).

Example minimal configuration for applying security updates and emailing results:

[commands]
upgrade_type = security
download_updates = yes
apply_updates = yes

[emitters]
emit_via = email

[email]
email_from = root@your_server_fqdn.example.com
email_to = your_email@example.com

[base]
# Don't automatically reboot after updates
# reboot = yes

Enable and start the dnf-automatic timer:

sudo systemctl enable dnf-automatic.timer
sudo systemctl start dnf-automatic.timer

This timer unit runs dnf-automatic periodically (usually daily) to check for and apply updates based on your configuration. While automation is great, it's still crucial to monitor the results via email or logs to ensure updates are applied successfully and haven't caused unexpected issues.

11. Implement a Backup Strategy

No server is truly production-ready without a reliable backup strategy. Data loss can occur due to hardware failure, human error, malicious attacks, or natural disasters. Regular, tested backups are your safety net.

Your backup strategy should include:

• What to back up: System configuration files (/etc), application data, databases, user home directories, and potentially the entire system image.

• Where to store backups: Off-site locations, cloud storage, or separate backup servers are preferred over storing backups on the same machine.

• How often to back up: Depends on how frequently your data changes and your recovery point objective (RPO).

• How to perform backups: Tools like rsync, tar, dump/restore, or specialized backup software (e.g., Bacula, Amanda, Veeam Agent for Linux) can be used.

• How to restore: Crucially, you must regularly test your backup restoration process to ensure it works when needed. A backup is useless if it cannot be restored.

For configuration files, a simple script using tar and rsync to copy them to a remote location can be effective. For databases, use database-specific tools (e.g., mysqldump, pg_dump).

Consider using tools like borgbackup or restic for encrypted, deduplicated backups that can be stored efficiently in various locations.

Automate your backups using cron jobs or systemd timers. Monitor backup job logs to ensure they complete successfully every time.

12. Secure Shared Memory

Shared memory segments can sometimes be exploited by malicious local users to gain access to sensitive information from other processes. Securing /dev/shm is a simple but effective hardening step.

Edit the /etc/fstab file:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Find the line mounting /dev/shm (it might not exist, in which case you add it) and ensure it includes the noexec and nosuid options. Adding size can also limit its usage.

Add or modify the line to look something like this:

tmpfs   /dev/shm    tmpfs   defaults,noexec,nosuid,size=1G    0 0

The noexec option prevents execution of binaries on the filesystem, and nosuid prevents set-user-id and set-group-id bits from having any effect. size=1G limits the maximum size of the shared memory filesystem.

Apply the changes by remounting /dev/shm or rebooting:

sudo mount -o remount /dev/shm

Verify the options are applied:

mount | grep /dev/shm

The output should show noexec,nosuid among the options.

13. Configure Swap Space

Swap space is a portion of the hard drive used as virtual RAM when physical RAM is exhausted. While modern servers with ample RAM might not rely heavily on swap, configuring it correctly is still important to prevent out-of-memory errors from crashing applications or the system.

Check current swap usage:

swapon --show
free -h

If you need to add swap space, you can use a swap partition or a swap file. Using a swap file is often more flexible.

To create a 2GB swap file:

sudo fallocate -l 2G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

To make the swap file persistent across reboots, add an entry to /etc/fstab:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add the following line:

/swapfile none swap sw 0 0

Adjusting the swappiness parameter can influence how aggressively the kernel uses swap. A lower value (e.g., 10-20) makes the kernel prefer keeping data in RAM, which is often better for performance on servers with sufficient memory. A higher value (default is 60) makes the kernel swap more readily.

Check current swappiness:

cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness

Set swappiness to 10 (temporarily):

sudo sysctl vm.swappiness=10

To make this persistent, add the following line to /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf (or another file in that directory):

sudo nano /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf

Add:

vm.swappiness = 10

Apply the persistent change:

sudo sysctl -p

14. Review and Harden Kernel Parameters

The Linux kernel has numerous parameters that can be tuned to improve security and performance. These are controlled via the /proc/sys filesystem and can be made persistent using files in /etc/sysctl.d/.

Some common security-related kernel parameters to consider include:

• Disable IP forwarding if the server is not acting as a router:

  net.ipv4.ip_forward = 0
  net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding = 0

• Enable SYN flood protection:

  net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies = 1

• Ignore ICMP broadcast requests to prevent smurf attacks:

  net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts = 1

• Ignore ICMP redirects:

  net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_redirects = 0
  net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_redirects = 0
  net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_redirects = 0
  net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_redirects = 0

• Log spoofed packets, source routed packets, and redirects:

  net.ipv4.conf.all.log_martians = 1
  net.ipv4.conf.default.log_martians = 1

Add these lines to a file like /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf and apply with sudo sysctl -p.

The optimal kernel parameters depend on the server's role. Always research the impact of changing kernel parameters before applying them in production.

15. Install and Configure Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

An IDS can help detect malicious activity on your server. While not a preventative measure like a firewall, it provides valuable insights into potential compromises or policy violations.

Popular open-source options include Snort or Suricata (network-based IDS/IPS) and OSSEC or Wazuh (host-based IDS).

A host-based IDS like OSSEC/Wazuh monitors system logs, file integrity, rootkits, and can perform active responses. Installing and configuring one adds a significant layer to your security monitoring.

Installation typically involves adding a repository and using dnf. Configuration requires defining agents (if monitoring other machines), setting up rules, and configuring alerts (often via email or integration with a SIEM).

For example, installing Wazuh agent on AlmaLinux:

sudo rpm --import https://packages.wazuh.com/key/GPG-KEY-WAZUH
cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/wazuh.repo
[wazuh_repo]
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://packages.wazuh.com/key/GPG-KEY-WAZUH
enabled=1
name=Wazuh repository
baseurl=https://packages.wazuh.com/4.x/yum/
type=rpm
EOF
sudo dnf install wazuh-agent
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable wazuh-agent

You would then need to configure the agent to connect to your Wazuh manager by editing /var/ossec/etc/ossec.conf and setting the manager IP address.

Implementing an IDS requires ongoing effort to tune rules and respond to alerts, but it's a critical component of a mature security posture.

16. Disable Unnecessary Services

Every running service consumes resources and potentially exposes a vulnerability. Review the services running on your server and disable any that are not required for its specific role.

List active services:

sudo systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running

Carefully examine this list. For example, if your server is not a mail server, disable sendmail or postfix. If it's not a desktop system, disable GUI-related services. If you're not using CUPS, disable it.

To stop and disable a service:

sudo systemctl stop <service_name>
sudo systemctl disable <service_name>

Use caution when disabling services, as stopping a necessary service can break system functionality or applications. If unsure, research the service's purpose before disabling it.

17. Configure Resource Limits (ulimits)

Resource limits (ulimits) control the resources available to processes, such as the number of open files, maximum process size, and maximum number of processes. Configuring these limits can prevent a single runaway process from consuming all system resources and impacting stability.

View current limits for the current session:

ulimit -a

System-wide limits are configured in /etc/security/limits.conf and files in /etc/security/limits.d/. It's best practice to use a file in limits.d for your custom configurations, e.g., /etc/security/limits.d/99-custom.conf.

sudo nano /etc/security/limits.d/99-custom.conf

Example: Setting limits for a specific user or group:

# <domain>      <type>  <item>      <value>
*		soft	core		0
*		hard	core		0
*		soft	nproc		4096
*		hard	nproc		8192
@appusers	soft	nofile		4096
@appusers	hard	nofile		10000

These settings disable core dumps system-wide, set soft/hard limits for the number of processes for all users, and set limits on the number of open files for users in the appusers group. The soft limit is a warning, while the hard limit is enforced by the kernel. Users can increase their own soft limits up to the hard limit.

Changes to limits.conf typically require users to log out and back in to take effect.

18. Review and Partition Disk Usage

While partitioning is typically done during installation, reviewing the layout and ensuring sufficient space for different parts of the filesystem is important. For production, separating partitions like /, /home, /var, /tmp, and potentially /opt or /usr/local can improve stability and security.

Check disk usage and partition layout:

df -h
lsblk

Mounting partitions like /tmp and /var/tmp with noexec, nosuid, and nodev options in /etc/fstab can prevent execution of malicious code from temporary directories.

tmpfs   /tmp        tmpfs   defaults,noexec,nosuid,nodev    0 0
tmpfs   /var/tmp    tmpfs   defaults,noexec,nosuid,nodev    0 0

Apply changes by remounting or rebooting:

sudo mount -o remount /tmp
sudo mount -o remount /var/tmp

Ensure that partitions like /var (which contains logs, package manager cache, etc.) have enough space to grow. Running out of disk space, especially on the root partition or /var, can cause significant system instability or failure.

19. Secure and Optimize Web Server (If Applicable)

If your AlmaLinux server will host websites or web applications, securing and optimizing the web server software (like Apache or Nginx) is a critical post-installation step.

General web server hardening steps include:

• Removing default or example configuration files.
• Disabling unnecessary modules.
• Configuring TLS/SSL certificates for HTTPS.
• Setting appropriate file permissions for web roots.
• Implementing security headers.
• Configuring logging and monitoring for web traffic and errors.
• Using a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

For Apache, ensure modules like mod_status and mod_info are restricted or disabled in production. Configure strong TLS settings and use tools like Certbot for Let's Encrypt certificates.

For Nginx, ensure server tokens are off and configure appropriate access logs and error logs. Securing Nginx involves careful configuration to mitigate common web vulnerabilities.

Optimizing involves caching, compression, and tuning worker processes based on server resources and traffic load. Performance is key for production web services.

20. Implement Regular Security Audits and Scans

A production server's security posture isn't static. New vulnerabilities are discovered regularly. Implementing a schedule for security audits and scans is essential for ongoing security.

Tools like OpenSCAP can scan your system against security policies (like the CIS Benchmarks for RHEL) and provide remediation guidance. Vulnerability scanners (e.g., Nessus, OpenVAS) can identify known vulnerabilities in installed software and configurations.

Regularly review system logs, audit logs, and IDS alerts. Stay informed about security advisories related to AlmaLinux and the software running on your server. Staying vigilant about Linux security involves proactive scanning and patching.

Consider penetration testing, either internal or external, to identify weaknesses in your server's defenses from an attacker's perspective.

21. Document Your Configuration

This step is often overlooked but is incredibly important for production environments. Documenting your server's configuration, including network settings, installed packages, custom configurations, security settings, user accounts, and backup procedures, is crucial for maintenance, troubleshooting, and disaster recovery.

Maintain a clear record of all changes made to the server after the initial setup. This documentation will be invaluable if you need to rebuild the server, hand it over to another administrator, or troubleshoot complex issues.

22. Plan for Ongoing Maintenance and Lifecycle Management

Getting the server production-ready is just the first phase. A production server requires ongoing maintenance. This includes:

• Regularly applying updates (automated and manual).
• Monitoring system health and performance.
• Reviewing logs and security alerts.
• Testing backups.
• Auditing user accounts and permissions.
• Reviewing firewall rules.
• Planning for major version upgrades or eventual server replacement.

Have a plan for how you will manage the server throughout its lifecycle, including decommissioning when it reaches end-of-life or is no longer needed. Effective IT lifecycle management ensures resources are used efficiently and securely.

Conclusion

Installing AlmaLinux provides a solid, stable foundation for your production workloads. However, the steps taken immediately after installation are arguably the most critical for ensuring the server's security, reliability, and performance.

This expanded checklist, going well beyond the initial few points often considered, covers the essential areas of system administration required to prepare an AlmaLinux server for the demands of a production environment. From fundamental tasks like updating and securing SSH to more advanced topics like SELinux configuration, IDS implementation, and kernel hardening, each step contributes to building a robust and resilient system.

Remember that security and maintenance are ongoing processes. Regularly revisiting this checklist and staying informed about best practices and potential threats will help ensure your AlmaLinux servers remain stable and secure throughout their operational life. By investing the time and effort upfront, you significantly reduce the risk of future problems and build a foundation you can trust for your critical applications and data.

While this guide provides a comprehensive overview, the specific configuration details will vary based on your server's intended role and your organization's security policies. Always tailor these steps to your specific needs and test changes thoroughly in a non-production environment before deploying them live.

By diligently following these post-installation procedures, you can confidently deploy AlmaLinux servers that are not just functional, but truly production-ready.

Additional Resources:

• Understanding Open Source Security Challenges (TechCrunch)
• General Network Security Principles (Wired - applicable concepts)
• The Importance of Enterprise Linux (VentureBeat)