Good afternoon, I am seeking advice and assistance. I have been wanting to move away from my current hosting provider to DigitalOcean for a while now, but I am unsure if I possess the necessary skills to properly set up a server.

In essence, I am familiar with the basics of setting up apache, mysql, and php on ubuntu, as well as installing required extensions. However, my knowledge is limited to these fundamentals. While browsing through the digitalocean community, I have come across numerous articles on server setup, but most of them provide simple instructions without delving into more advanced concepts.

So, here's my question: I kindly request your help in providing me with links to information that explains how to configure a server on Ubuntu specifically for DigitalOcean, as this will replace my current hosting setup. From my understanding, I would install apache, php, and mysql, and then place my websites in the home directory of the designated user (~/www/{site1.com, site2.com, site3.com}). However, I am aware that this approach might not be entirely secure or optimal, so I'm curious to know what else needs to be done beyond my existing knowledge.

I can assist you with finding the necessary resources to configure your server on DigitalOcean.

To start, DigitalOcean offers several tutorials and guides on their website that cover various aspects of server setup and configuration. You can explore their extensive collection of tutorials in the DigitalOcean Community section, which covers a wide range of topics related to server administration, security, and optimization.

To get you started, here are a few useful tutorials that may help you in setting up your server on Ubuntu specifically for DigitalOcean:

1. "Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 18.04" - This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on securing and setting up a new Ubuntu 18.04 server, including creating a non-root user, enabling SSH access, and configuring a basic firewall. You can find it at:
  https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/initial-server-setup-with-ubuntu-18-04

2. "How To Install Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP) stack on Ubuntu 18.04" - This guide walks you through installing and configuring a LAMP stack on Ubuntu 18.04, which includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It also covers securing your installation and troubleshooting common issues.
  https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-linux-apache-mysql-php-lamp-stack-ubuntu-18-04

3. "How To Secure Apache with Let's Encrypt on Ubuntu 18.04" - This tutorial explains how to obtain and install a free SSL/TLS certificate from Let's Encrypt to secure your Apache web server on Ubuntu 18.04. It demonstrates the whole process of configuring SSL for your websites.
  https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-secure-apache-with-let-s-encrypt-on-ubuntu-18-04

Here are a few more tutorials that can help you further enhance your server setup on DigitalOcean:

1. "Introduction to Linux System Administration" - This tutorial introduces you to the basics of Linux system administration. It covers essential concepts such as file permissions, user management, package management, and troubleshooting techniques.
  Link: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorial_series/introduction-to-linux-system-administration

2. "How To Set Up Apache Virtual Hosts on Ubuntu 18.04" - This guide explains how to set up Apache virtual hosts, allowing you to host multiple websites on a single server. It covers the configuration of virtual hosts, including basic settings, log files, and SSL setup.
  Link: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-set-up-apache-virtual-hosts-on-ubuntu-18-04

3. "How To Install and Secure phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu 18.04" - This tutorial walks you through the process of installing and securing phpMyAdmin, a popular web-based interface for managing MySQL databases. It covers setting up authentication and configuring the necessary security measures.
  Link: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-secure-phpmyadmin-on-ubuntu-18-04

4. "How To Optimize Nginx Configuration" - If you're considering using Nginx instead of Apache for your web server, this tutorial guides you through optimizing your Nginx configuration for better performance and security.
  Link: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-optimize-nginx-configuration

These resources should provide you with a comprehensive understanding of server configuration and optimization on DigitalOcean. Remember to always consider security best practices, update your software regularly, and make use of monitoring tools to ensure your server runs smoothly.

Security is a continuous process, not a fixed state. To achieve a reasonably secure system, it is important to:

1. Stay informed about existing vulnerabilities in the software you use, such as by regularly monitoring security notices for your operating system (e.g., Ubuntu).
2. Keep your system up to date with the latest patches and updates.
3. Use strong passwords that are changed periodically.
4. Disable any unnecessary services or features.
5. Minimize network access wherever possible, avoiding exposing sensitive services to the public.
6. Disable any unused modules, plugins, extensions, or features.
7. Regularly backup your data to protect against potential loss or corruption.
8. Follow the principle of least privilege, granting users only the minimum privileges necessary to perform their tasks.
9. Avoid connecting to the server from unreliable systems, such as those used for pirated games or accessing suspicious online content.

By following these simple guidelines, you can provide nearly 100% protection against automated hacking attempts and password-stealing Trojans. However, it's important to remember that the security of your system ultimately depends on the quality and integrity of your code, rather than solely relying on system settings.

If you can spare some time, you may consider perusing the PCI DSS security standard. While certain aspects might not apply to your specific circumstances, it will provide a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes good security practices.

I highly doubt that a rational individual would opt for a $10 VPS setup. Recently, I took on a similar task which involved configuring a WordPress website on a single host using my pre-established templates on debian/ubuntu. The entire process consumed approximately 1.5 hours and amounted to a cost of $30. All parties involved expressed satisfaction.

Perhaps there could have been a more economical solution; however, in my opinion, $20/hour is a fair price.