A [Proxmox home lab](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46793807) is often used to explore virtualization features, test configurations, or run experimental workloads. While it may not be a production environment, ignoring security can expose your host, virtual machines, and connected network to serious risks. Applying proven Proxmox security best practices helps prevent unauthorized access, performance abuse, and data loss—even in small lab setups.

Since Proxmox runs directly on physical hardware, attackers who gain access can misuse system resources for malicious purposes such as crypto mining, botnets, or ransomware deployment. This not only threatens data but can also severely impact system stability and performance.

**Secure Access from the Start**

Strong authentication is the foundation of Proxmox security best practices. Use long, unique passwords for all administrative accounts and avoid shared credentials. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection and significantly reduces the risk of account compromise. Proxmox supports multiple 2FA methods, making it easy to harden access without sacrificing usability.

**Harden SSH Management**

Although most Proxmox management happens through the web interface, SSH remains a critical control point. Reduce exposure by changing the default SSH port, disabling direct root logins, and using sudo for elevated privileges. Switching to SSH key-based authentication further strengthens security by eliminating password-based attacks.

**Segment Networks to Limit Risk**

Network segmentation is another core Proxmox security best practice. Use VLANs to separate management traffic, virtual machines, storage, guest devices, and public-facing services. This approach minimizes the attack surface and prevents compromised VMs from reaching sensitive management or backup systems when combined with Proxmox firewall rules.

**Restrict Ports and Enforce Firewall Policies**

Unnecessary open ports are a common entry point for attackers. Close everything that isn’t required and allow access only from trusted IP addresses. Proxmox includes a built-in firewall that can be applied at the datacenter, node, or VM level. Some home labs also use a dedicated firewall VM to protect the broader network, depending on uptime requirements.

**Protect Data and Remote Access**

If you use ZFS storage, enabling encryption helps protect data at rest. Just as important, never expose the Proxmox management interface directly to the public internet. For remote administration, rely on VPN access or tightly restricted firewall rules instead of open ports.

**Monitor, Patch, and Review**

Effective [Proxmox security best practices](https://www.nakivo.com/blog/how-to-secure-proxmox-home-lab/) include continuous monitoring and regular maintenance. Review authentication and system logs, watch resource usage for anomalies, and keep Proxmox updated with the latest security patches.

**Secure Backups Against Ransomware**

Backups are essential—but they must be protected. Use isolated or air-gapped storage and enable backup immutability to prevent ransomware from encrypting or deleting recovery data. [NAKIVO Backup & Replication](https://linktr.ee/nakivobackupsoftware) supports Proxmox VM backups with immutable repositories, helping ensure reliable recovery when incidents occur.
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