How to Secure and Customize Your cPanel Account Print

How to Secure and Customize Your cPanel Account

At Vivint Host, our cloud hosting environment is optimized for performance and security-right from the start. But to truly make your client interface reflect your brand, cPanel offers a flexible customization panel within Web Host Manager (WHM). This guide will walk you through branding your cPanel experience and tailoring the interface to align with your business identity.

Customize cPanel Branding

All Vivint Host reseller hosting packages are ready to use with minimal setup. However, if you want your clients to see your brand-not ours-when they log in, you can update the cPanel branding to reflect your company’s identity.

Step 1: Log into Web Host Manager (WHM)

1. Use your WHM login credentials.

Once inside, navigate to “Customization” under the cPanel section.

Step 2: Update Your Company Information

Inside the Customization panel, you can define branding elements that your clients will see when they access their cPanel accounts.

Here’s what you can customize:

• Company Name:
  Enter your business name as you'd like it to appear in the cPanel interface. For example: Vivint Cloud Solutions.
  
  
• Help Link:
  Add the URL to your customer support page or helpdesk, so clients can reach your support team directly from their cPanel.
  
  
• Documentation Link:
  Include links to any setup guides or FAQs you’ve published. This can be your knowledge base or technical documentation hosted on your website.
  
  
• Company Logo:
  Upload your logo to replace the default cPanel branding. This appears at the top of your client’s cPanel dashboard.
  
  
• Webmail Logo:
  Same as above, but specific to the Webmail interface. This keeps your branding consistent across both cPanel and Webmail views.
  
  
• Favicon:
  You can also upload your business favicon (the small icon that appears in the browser tab). If not uploaded, cPanel’s default icon will be used.
  
  

Once all changes are saved, you might need to clear your browser cache or log out and back in to see the updates take effect.

Step 3: Change the cPanel Style

By default, cPanel uses its latest interface style, which most users are already familiar with. But if you’d like to offer a different visual experience, you can change the default style for your users.

Here’s how:

> Still in WHM’s Customization section, click on the “Customize Style” tab.

> Choose from several available cPanel themes: 

Basic – Clean and familiar layout.
Dark Mode – Modern, bold design (note: may be hard on the eyes for some users).
Retro – Resembles legacy cPanel styling; useful for clients migrating from older systems.

You can preview these styles and choose one that best fits your clients’ needs.

Advanced Custom Styling (For Developers)

If you're a web developer or designer and want to take things a step further, cPanel allows you to create and upload your own custom style. This option gives you full control over the interface design.

Refer to cPanel’s official guide for instructions on how to create a custom theme.

How to Secure Your cPanel Account

At Vivint Host, we prioritize the security of your hosting environment. Securing your cPanel account is crucial to protect your website, data, and online presence from potential threats. This guide provides step-by-step instructions to enhance your cPanel account's security effectively.

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Ensure that all passwords associated with your cPanel account are strong and unique. A robust password should include:

• At least 12 characters
• A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
• Numbers and special symbols
  
  

Avoid using easily guessable information such as birthdays or common words. Regularly updating your passwords adds an extra layer of security.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-Factor Authentication adds an additional security layer by requiring a second form of verification. To enable 2FA in cPanel:leanna.ng

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Navigate to Security > Two-Factor Authentication.
3. Click on Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup using an authentication app.
   
   

3. Secure SSH Access

If you use SSH to access your server, securing it is vital:cPanel & WHM Documentation+1support.cpanel.net+1

• Change the Default SSH Port: Modify the default port (22) to a non-standard port to reduce exposure to automated attacks.
• Disable Root Login: Prevent direct root access by editing the SSH configuration file and setting PermitRootLogin to no.
• Use SSH Keys: Implement SSH key authentication instead of passwords for enhanced security.clients.temok.com+1support.cpanel.net+1

These measures help protect against unauthorized access attempts.

4. Keep cPanel and Server Software Updated

Regularly updating cPanel and associated server software ensures that you have the latest security patches and features. To update cPanel:clients.temok.com

1. Log in to WHM.
2. Navigate to Home > cPanel > Upgrade to Latest Version.

Additionally, ensure that your operating system and other server software are up to date.

5. Implement a Firewall and Antivirus Protection

Protect your server by setting up a firewall and antivirus software: cPanel & WHM Documentation

• ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF): A popular firewall that integrates with cPanel to provide comprehensive security features.
• ClamAV Antivirus: An open-source antivirus engine that can be installed as a cPanel plugin to scan for malicious software.

These tools help in monitoring and defending against potential threats.

6. Regular Backups

Maintain regular backups of your website and databases:

• Automated Backups: Set up automated backup schedules within cPanel.
• Offsite Storage: Store backups in a secure, offsite location to protect against data loss.

Regular backups ensure that you can quickly restore your site in case of any issues.

7. Utilize cPanel's Security Advisor

cPanel's Security Advisor provides recommendations to enhance your server's security:

• Log in to WHM.
• Navigate to Home > Security Center > Security Advisor.
• Review and implement the suggested security improvements.

Regularly consulting the Security Advisor helps maintain a robust security posture.

Final Thoughts

Customizing your cPanel environment helps build trust with clients, adds professionalism to your hosting service, and ensures a smoother user experience. 

At Vivint Host, we provide the tools-you bring the brand. If you need assistance with customization or want guidance on branding best practices, our 24/7 expert support is here to help.