From Wide Open to Locked Down: My Homelab Security Awakening

The 'Oh Crap' Moment

Hey everyone! So, let's talk about something a bit embarrassing, but incredibly educational. For a while, my homelab was a glorious, sprawling mess of services, containers, and VMs. It was my playground, my learning ground, and honestly, a bit of a digital wild west. I was so focused on getting things *working* that I completely overlooked getting them *secure*.

My 'oh crap' moment came when I was casually chatting with a security-minded friend. I was proudly showing off my Plex server, my Nextcloud instance, and all the cool stuff I could access remotely. He asked, "How are you accessing that remotely?" I nonchalantly replied, "Oh, just port forwarded a few things, standard stuff." The look on his face told me everything. A quick Shodan search later, and there it was: my public IP, showing open ports for services I hadn't even realized were exposed. It was like I had left my front door, back door, and all the windows wide open, with a neon sign flashing 'Free Stuff Inside!'

Where I Went Wrong (and What I Learned)

My initial setup was a textbook example of what *not* to do. Default passwords? Check. Services running with admin privileges? Check. Direct port forwards for every little thing? Triple check. No network segmentation whatsoever? You betcha. My entire network was one flat, happy family, meaning if one device was compromised, everything else was a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Phase 1: Network Segmentation - The Great Wall of VLANs

The first, and arguably most impactful, step was implementing network segmentation using VLANs. This was a game-changer. I carved up my network into logical zones:

• Management VLAN: For my core networking gear (router, switches, access points). Very restricted access.

• Trusted Devices VLAN: My personal laptops, phones, and devices I explicitly trust.

• Homelab Servers VLAN: All my VMs, containers, and dedicated server hardware.

• IoT VLAN: For all those 'smart' devices that are notoriously chatty and less secure.

• Guest VLAN: Completely isolated for visitors.

This meant that my smart lightbulbs couldn't 'see' my Proxmox server, and a compromised IoT device couldn't easily pivot into my critical infrastructure. It was a steep learning curve with my UniFi gear and pfSense firewall, but absolutely worth it.

Phase 2: Firewall Rules - The Bouncer at the Door

With VLANs in place, the next step was to craft strict firewall rules. Gone were the days of 'allow any-any'. I adopted a 'deny all, permit by exception' philosophy. This involved:

• Inter-VLAN Rules: Explicitly defining what traffic could flow between VLANs. For example, my trusted devices could access the homelab servers, but the IoT VLAN couldn't initiate connections to anything sensitive.

• Egress Filtering: Blocking outbound traffic from certain VLANs (like IoT) to the internet, except for what was absolutely necessary for them to function.

• Blocking Default Ports: Where possible, I changed default service ports (e.g., SSH from 22 to something high and obscure).

• Geo-Blocking: Blocking entire countries known for malicious activity (though this can sometimes be a double-edged sword).

This required a lot of trial and error. I broke things countless times, locking myself out of services, or preventing devices from communicating. But each failure was a lesson learned in firewall logic.

Phase 3: Authentication & Service Hardening - The Basics Done Right

I went through every single service and device:

• Strong, Unique Passwords: Used a password manager and generated complex, unique passwords for everything.

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enabled 2FA on every single service and device that supported it.

• Disable Unused Services: If it wasn't needed, it was turned off.

• Regular Updates: Set up automated updates where possible and made a habit of manually patching everything else.

• Principle of Least Privilege: Ensured services and users only had the minimum permissions required to function.

Phase 4: Secure Remote Access - VPN is Your Friend

Direct port forwards were completely removed. For remote access, I set up a robust OpenVPN server on my pfSense box. Now, if I need to access my homelab from outside, I establish a secure VPN tunnel first. This means my services aren't directly exposed to the internet, and all traffic is encrypted.

Phase 5: Monitoring & IDS/IPS - The Watchful Eye

Finally, I integrated Suricata (an Intrusion Detection/Prevention System) into pfSense. This provides an extra layer of defense, alerting me to suspicious network activity or even blocking known malicious traffic patterns. I also started regularly reviewing logs from my firewall and servers for any anomalies.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

The biggest challenge was undoubtedly the complexity and the fear of breaking things. Network segmentation and firewall rules can be daunting, and I spent many late nights troubleshooting why a particular service suddenly stopped working. The learning curve for pfSense was steep, but the documentation and community forums were invaluable.

What did I learn? A ton:

• Security by Design: Don't make security an afterthought. Plan it from the beginning.

• It's an Ongoing Process: Security isn't a one-and-done setup; it requires continuous vigilance, updates, and adjustments.

• Documentation is Key: Documenting my VLANs, firewall rules, and service configurations saved me countless headaches.

• Assume Breach: Always operate with the mindset that eventually, something might get through. This encourages layers of defense.

• Balance is Important: While security is paramount, it shouldn't make your homelab unusable. Find a balance that works for you.

Now, I sleep a little sounder knowing my homelab isn't broadcasting its vulnerabilities to the world. It’s a journey, not a destination, and I'm still learning every day. But that initial 'oh crap' moment transformed my approach to my entire digital life.

How about you? Any similar security awakenings in your homelab?