10 Essential Tasks After Launching Your Free Linux Virtual Machine in the Cloud

Congratulations! You’ve successfully launched your Linux virtual machine in the cloud using Neon Cloud. But what’s next? While launching a cloud virtual machine is a huge first step, setting it up properly is what truly makes it useful, secure, and reliable. Think of it like moving into a new house – you’ve got the keys, but now it’s time to install the locks, set up utilities, and make the place livable. In this blog, we’ll walk you through 10 essential tasks that every user should perform after launching a free Linux virtual machine. Whether you’re a beginner or someone exploring the best virtual machine options online, this guide will help you maximize the potential of your free Virtual Machine from day one.

What to Do Right After Setting Up Your Linux Virtual Machine

Launching your free Linux virtual machine is just the first step. Before you dive into development or deployment, here are 10 important tasks to secure, optimize, and prepare your Virtual Machine for smooth and efficient performance.

1. Update and Upgrade Your Linux System

The first thing you should do is update your system. New Linux distributions may still have outdated software packages or security vulnerabilities. Run these commands to ensure everything is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This command fetches the latest package lists and installs security patches. Keeping your Linux virtual machine updated is one of the easiest ways to stay safe from threats.

2. Create a New User and Disable Root Login

By default, many Linux systems allow root access, which isn’t recommended for regular use. It’s a good idea to create a new user and assign them sudo privileges:

adduser newuser

usermod -aG sudo newuser

Then, disable root login through SSH by editing the SSH config file:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Find PermitRootLogin yes and change it to no. This strengthens your online virtual machine’s security and ensures better access control.

3. Enable SSH Key Authentication

Passwords are vulnerable. Setting up SSH key-based login makes your Linux virtual machine online much more secure. Generate an SSH key on your local machine:

ssh-keygen

Then, copy it to your server:

ssh-copy-id user@your_server_ip

This replaces password-based login with encrypted keys, protecting your Virtual Machine from brute-force attacks.

Read More: Free Linux Virtual Machine Online

4. Set Up a Basic Firewall (UFW)

Firewall setup is non-negotiable when working with any cloud virtual machine. UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is a great tool to manage this:

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH

sudo ufw enable

sudo ufw status

This allows SSH access and blocks everything else by default. You can later allow specific ports depending on the services you’re running.

5. Install Fail2Ban for Intrusion Prevention

Fail2Ban is a tool that protects your Linux virtual machine from brute-force login attacks by banning IPs with multiple failed login attempts. Install and enable it using:

sudo apt install fail2ban

sudo systemctl enable fail2ban

It runs in the background and monitors logs, adding a layer of protection to your Neon Cloud Virtual Machine.

6. Install Essential Packages

Your virtual machine may be clean, but it probably lacks useful tools. Depending on your use case, you might need:

sudo apt install curl git htop unzip

These tools are basic but necessary for day-to-day development, debugging, or deployment tasks on your best virtual machine setup.

7. Set Timezone and Hostname

Synchronizing your Virtual Machine’s timezone with your local environment helps avoid scheduling or logging confusion. You can set your timezone like this:

sudo timedatectl set-timezone Asia/Kolkata

Also, update your hostname to identify your Linux virtual machine:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname neon-vm

Now your system will reflect your organization and be easier to manage across multiple machines.

8. Monitor System Performance

Keep an eye on your resources. Use commands like:

top

df -h

free -m

You can also install monitoring tools like htop or use cloud-based dashboards offered by Neon Cloud. Monitoring your online virtual machine ensures you don’t hit free-tier limits or crash during important tasks.

9. Enable Automatic Security Updates

Security updates are critical, and you don’t want to manually install them every time. On Ubuntu-based systems, you can enable unattended upgrades:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades

sudo dpkg-reconfigure –priority=low unattended-upgrades

This helps your Linux virtual machine stay protected even when you’re not actively maintaining it.

10. Take Snapshots or Backups

Don’t wait for disaster to strike. Once your system is set up and working, take a snapshot or backup through Neon Cloud’s dashboard. This allows you to roll back in case something breaks later. Snapshots are especially useful before installing big packages or making major changes to your cloud virtual machine.

Final Thoughts from Neon Cloud

Setting up your free Linux virtual machine is just the beginning. What you do next determines how secure, stable, and scalable your environment becomes. By following these 10 essential steps, you’re not only securing your Virtual Machine but also setting yourself up for smoother operations. At Neon Cloud, we’re here to make cloud computing more accessible. Whether you’re hosting your first project, building a dev environment, or simply exploring the power of Linux, our platform is designed to support your goals – reliably, securely, and affordably.

Need help setting up or managing your Virtual Machine? Reach out to the Neon Cloud support team anytime, or explore more resources on our internal knowledge hub.