sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw allow 8096/tcp
sudo ufw allow 8920/tcp
sudo ufw enable
## Implementing Reverse Proxy Protection
A reverse proxy serves as your first line of defense, handling incoming connections before they reach your Jellyfin server. Nginx and Apache are popular choices, but for beginners, Caddy offers an excellent balance of security and simplicity. Here's a sample Caddy configuration that implements secure headers and SSL:
jellyfin.yourdomain.com {
reverse_proxy localhost:8096
header {
Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000"
X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block"
X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff"
X-Frame-Options "SAMEORIGIN"
}
}
## Cloudflare Integration for Enhanced Security
Cloudflare offers a particularly robust solution for protecting your Jellyfin server. By using Cloudflare Tunnels (formerly Argo Tunnel), you can establish a secure connection without opening any ports on your router. This approach is significantly more secure than traditional port forwarding.
To implement Cloudflare Tunnel:
1. Sign up for a Cloudflare account and add your domain
2. Install cloudflared on your server
3. Authenticate with Cloudflare using:
cloudflared tunnel login
4. Create and configure your tunnel:
cloudflared tunnel create jellyfin
cloudflared tunnel route dns jellyfin jellyfin.yourdomain.com
## VPN Solutions for Maximum Privacy
While Cloudflare provides excellent protection, adding a VPN layer can further enhance security by encrypting all traffic and masking your server's true IP address. NordVPN stands out here due to its dedicated IP option, which is particularly valuable for hosting services like Jellyfin. Using a dedicated IP ensures consistent access while maintaining privacy and avoiding the potential bottlenecks of shared IPs.
When implementing a VPN solution, configure your server to route Jellyfin traffic through the VPN while maintaining local access through your standard network interface. This can be achieved through split tunneling, which NordVPN supports natively.
## Authentication and Access Control
Strong authentication forms a critical component of your security strategy. Jellyfin supports several authentication methods:
Configure your main administrator account with a strong password (minimum 16 characters, mixing letters, numbers, and symbols). Enable Jellyfin's built-in brute force protection by setting login attempt limits in the server dashboard.
For additional security, implement IP-based access control through your reverse proxy. This Nginx configuration example allows access only from specific IP ranges:
location / {
allow 192.168.1.0/24; # Local network
allow 203.0.113.0/24; # Your VPN's IP range
deny all; # Deny everyone else
proxy_pass http://localhost:8096;
}